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The starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus), also known as the stellate sturgeon or sevruga (Drakul, Persian: اوزون برون, and Turkish: Uzun Burun, lit. 'long nosed'), is a species of sturgeon. It is native to the Black, Azov, Caspian and Aegean sea basins, but it has been extirpated from the last and it is predicted that the remaining natural population will follow soon due to overfishing.[1]
| Starry sturgeon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Acipenser stellatus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acipenseriformes |
| Family: | Acipenseridae |
| Genus: | Acipenser |
| Species: | A. stellatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Acipenser stellatus Pallas 1771
| |
| |
| Starry sturgeon range.[3] | |
| Synonyms[4][5] | |
| |
The starry sturgeon is an anadromous species, which migrates up rivers to spawn.[6]
It is considered critically endangered by the IUCN and international trade in this species (including its caviar) is restricted by CITES.[1]
Description
editThe starry sturgeon reaches about 220 cm (7.2 ft) in length and weighs up to 80 kg (180 lb).[6] It is a slim-bodied fish easily distinguished from other sturgeons by its long, thin and straight snout. A row of five small barbels lies closer to the mouth than to the tip of the snout. The scales on the lateral line number between thirty and forty and these features distinguish this fish from the Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii). Its general colouring is dark greyish-green or brown with a pale underside. The scales on the lateral line are pale.[7] The maximum reported age for this species is 27 years.[6]
Biology
editThe starry sturgeon is a harmless species that feeds on fish, worms, crustaceans and mollusks.[6] It lies on the bottom during the day and feeds mostly at night. This fish is anadromous and moves upriver into shallow waters to spawn.[7]
Uses
edit
The starry sturgeon is an important commercial species of fish. It is one of the three most important species for caviar, see Sevruga caviar, along with the Beluga sturgeon and the Ossetra sturgeon. Its flesh is considered an expensive delicacy in the Caspian region. It is used to make kabaabs, or is consumed pan fried, broiled, or smoked. There have been several attempts in Russia, Iran, Italy, and the United States to adapt this species for aquaculture, with varying degrees of success.[citation needed]
The resilience of this species is low. The minimum population doubling time is 4.5 – 14 years.[citation needed]
Conservation
editThe species is believed to have undergone a loss of 95 percent of its population in three generations.[1] Illegal fishing is a major threat to the survival of this species.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Mugue, N.; Friedrich, T.; Chebanov, M.; Ruban, G (2022). "Acipenser stellatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T229A135062806. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T229A135062806.en. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ 2010. Acipenser stellatus. In: IUCN 2015. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. http://www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 18 July 2015.
- ^ Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017). "Acipenseridae". FishBase version (02/2017). Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- ^ "Acipenseridae" (PDF). Deeplyfish- fishes of the world. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Acipenser stellatus". FishBase. February 2013 version.
- ^ a b "Stellate sturgeon: Acipenser stellatus (Pallas)". NatureGate. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
External links
edit
Media related to Acipenser stellatus at Wikimedia Commons
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