Russian sturgeon
(Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)
Facts
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IUCN CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR)
Facts about this animal
Russian sturgeons may reach a length of 4 m and a body-weight of up to 160 kg, however, such large animals have become very rare nowadays.
In the sea, Russian sturgeons live mainly near the shore over sand and mud. They are usually solitary, but swarm when hibernating or during spawning migrations. Occasionally they form schools.
Most males begin become seuxually mature at an age of 11 to 13 years, while the equivalent age for the females is 12 to 16 years. They migrate upstream for spawning, which occurs from May to June.
The Russian sturgeon feeds on molluscs, crustaceans and small fish such as anchovies, sprats, or gobies.
Did you know?
that Russian sturgeons can reach an age of 50-60 years?
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | ACTINOPTERYGII |
| Order | ACIPENSERIFORMES |
| Suborder | ACIPENSEROIDEI |
| Family | ACIPENSERIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Acipenser gueldenstaedtii |
| Name (English) | Russian sturgeon |
| Name (French) | Esturgeon du Danube |
| Name (German) | Waxdick |
| Name (Spanish) | Esturión del Danubio |
| Local names | Bulgarian: Ruska esetra Hungarian: Vágo tok Romanian: Nisetru Russian: Chernamorsko-azovskyi osetr, Djirim, Viziga Turskish: Rusmersini baligi |
| CITES Status | Appendix II |
| CMS Status | Appendix II |
Photo Copyright by
Zoo Düsseldorf
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Caspian, Black and Azov Seas and their tributaries: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Kazakhstan, Moldavia, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia (up to Bratislava), Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine |
| Habitat | Seas, estuaries and major rivers |
| Wild population | No data |
| Zoo population | 8 reported to ISIS (2008) Considering that most public aquaria are not part of the WAZA system and do not register their collections with ISIS, available ISIS data are not significant. |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 52 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Fish must be unpacked carefully and under low illumination.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Zoo Düsseldorf
Why do zoos keep this animal
While this is an endangered species in the wild, public aquaria do not contribute to its conservation through ex situ-breeding programmes, but they use sturgeons purchased from aquaculture operations for educational purposes and as flagship species the conservation of commercially used fish species.