What Divers Should Know About Sturgeon

Sturgeon inhabit a diverse range of environments, from subtropical to sub-Arctic rivers, lakes, and coastlines across Eurasia and North America. As primarily benthic feeders, these ancient fish spend most of their lives in river deltas and estuaries, though some species are exclusively freshwater, and others frequent coastal marine environments, occasionally venturing into the open ocean. They are anadromous, migrating upstream specifically for spawning.

Easily identified by their distinctive, elongated, spindle-like bodies, sturgeon possess a smooth, scaleless skin armored with five lateral rows of bony scutes. Their heterocercal caudal fin is reminiscent of sharks. Several species grow quite large, typically reaching 2–3.5 meters (7–12 feet) in length, with the largest on record exceeding 7 meters. These bottom-feeders use siphon-like mouths to suck food from the benthos, primarily shellfish, crustaceans, and small fish, relying on non-visual senses like electroreception and barbels for detection.