DOCSLIB.ORG

Identification Key to Sturgeons and Paddlefish of North America

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Identification Key to Sturgeons and Paddlefish of North America APPENDIX IDENTIFICATION KEY TO STURGEONS AND PADDLEFISH OF NORTH AMERICA MARTIN HOCHLEITHNER1 AND PAUL VECSEI2 1AquaTech, Unterbrunnweg 3, Kitzbuehel, Austria 6370, E-mail: [email protected] 2Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA. E- mail: [email protected] Author’s note The dichotomous key is a tool used by ichthyologists, fisheries biologists, and students for identifying unknown specimens to the level of species, genus or family. Constructed from a series of couplets, each consists of two statements describing characteristics of a particular organism or group of organisms. The reader is offered a choice between the two statements that best fits the unidentified specimen in question (Timme 1991) The statements contained in the couplets initially cover broad characteristics and become narrower or more focused as more choices become available. As the reader progresses through the couplets, the key choices are ordered from broad to narrow characteristics until only a single choice remains. If the correct or relevant couplet is applicable and the unknown specimen is included in the key, positive identification is possible. Sturgeon researchers require familiarity with the terminology used to describe sturgeon morphology. A good key should be well designed, and maintain simple but appropriate terminology. This key may be lacking in this respect; several of the rules pertaining to dichotomous keys have been broken during the creation of this key. In reality, no single sturgeon key exists that works: every key concerning Acipenser, whether worldwide or regional, has some major flaw. Our priority was to construct a key that worked, and it proved very difficult. We had to disregard the couplets of equivalent features, and structured the key so that the reader should consider couplets only until they were superseded by a new couplet. In constructing the key, we used the following criteria whenever possible: x Morphological and meristic characters that are constant. x Characteristics that are generally visible on preserved as well as live specimens. x Inclusion of osteological characters (bony plates) whenever possible. They are consistent and easy to observe or count. 315 G.T.O. LeBreton et al. (eds.), Sturgeons and Paddlefish of North America, 315–318. 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. 316 M. HOCHLEITHNER AND P. VECSEI Skull cartilaginous, but covered by a large number of bony plates. Axial skeleton cartilaginous, vertebrae lacking centra, notochord persistent, extending into upper lobe of caudal fin. Pelvic fins abdominal without true spines. V-shaped fulcrae cover the axis of each unpaired fin: ... …...(Order: Acipenseriformes) Two Families in North America: 1 1 Body without rows of bony scutes, two small barbels (1 pair) on the underside of the rostrum anterior to the mouth, snout long and flattened (more than 70 % of the head length): ... (Family: Polyodontidae) One Species in North America: Polyodon spathula Body with five rows of bony scutes, four barbels (2 pairs) arranged in a single transverse row anterior to the mouth, snout short (less than 70 % of the head length): ... (Family: Acipenseridae) Eight Species in North America: 2 2 Snout conical with rounded edges, spiracle and pseudobranchiae present, caudal peduncle short, partly covered with bony scutes, lower lip interrupted medially and with two lobes, barbels not or slightly fimbriated: ... (Genus: Acipenser) 3 Snout spatulate with sharp edges, spiracle and pseudobranchiae absent, caudal peduncle long, fully covered with bony scutes, lower lip continous and with four lobes, barbels highly fimbriated: ... (Genus: Scaphirhynchus) 7 3 Plates present along both sides of the anal-fin base, 3 or more post-dorsal and post-anal plates (some in pairs), mouth opening usually less than 60 % of interorbital width: ... Acipenser oxyrinchus No plates at the sides of the anal-fin base, 3 or fewer post-dorsal and post-anal plates, mouth opening usually more than 60 % of interorbital width: ... 4 4 An olive-green lateral band along lateroventral surface (between lateral and ventral scutes), barbels closer to mouth and slightly fimbriated, 36 or fewer lateral scutes: ... Acipenser medirostris No olive-green lateral band between scute rows, barbels not fimbriated: ... 5 IDENTIFICATION KEY 317 5 Post-dorsal and post-anal plates absent, 5 or more pre-anal plates, 36 or more lateral scutes, 42 or more dorsal fin rays, barbels closer to the tip of the snout: ... Acipenser transmontanus Post-dorsal and post-anal plates present, 4 or less pre-anal plates: ... 6 6 Fewer than 23 anal fin rays, lateral scutes are lighter than the body background, base of barbels closer to the tip of the snout, 42 or less dorsal fin rays: ... Acipenser brevirostrum More than 23 anal fin rays, lateral scutes almost same color as the body background: ... Acipenser fulvescens 7 Dorsal fin with more than 38 rays and anal fin with more than 24 fin rays, caudal fin with more than 65 fin rays, outer-barbel length more than 1.5 times of inner barbel length, base of outer-barbels well behind inner-barbels: ... Scaphirhynchus albus Dorsal fin with less than 38 rays and anal fin with less than 24 fin rays, caudal fin with less than 65 fin rays, outer-barbel length less than 1.5 times of inner-barbel length, base of barbels nearly in one row: ... 8 8 Belly covered with large exposed bony plates, spines on the tip of the snout and between the small eyes: ... Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus Belly covered with small embedded bony plates, no spines on the tip of the snout and between the large eyes: ... Scaphirhynchus suttkusi 318 M. HOCHLEITHNER AND P. VECSEI Meristic Characters in Sturgeons and Paddlefish of North America Species DF AF DS LS VS GR poD poA prA Acipenser 30-42 19-22 7-13 21-35 6-11 22-29 1-3 1-2 2-3 brevirostrum Acipenser 35-45 25-30 9-17 29-42 7-12 25-40 1-2 1-2 1-2 fulvescens Acipenser 29-44 19-32 7-12 20-36 5-12 15-26 1-2 1-2 1-4 medirostris Acipenser 38-46 23-30 7-16 24-35 6-14 15-27 3-9 3-9 2-6 oxyrinchus Acipenser 42-52 25-32 11-14 36-48 9-12 23-36 0 0 5-9 transmontanus Scaphirhynchus 37-43 23-28 14-18 40-48 9-13 ? 8-9 7-8 4-5 albus Scaphirhynchus 29-39 18-25 13-19 38-50 9-14 ? 8-9 8-9 4-6 platorhynchus Scaphirhynchus 29-34 18-22 15-21 40-49 11-14 ? 7-9 7-8 4-6 suttkusi Polyodon ? ? 0 0 0 ? 0 0 0 spathula Abbreviations: DF = Dorsal fin rays, AF = Anal fin rays, DS = Dorsal scutes, LS = Lateral scutes, VS = Ventral scutes, GR = Gill rakers, poD = Plates between dorsal- and caudal fin, poA = Plates between anal- and caudal fin, prA = Plates between anus and anal fin; References Hochleithner M., Gessner J., 2001: The Sturgeons and Paddlefishes (Acipenseriformes) of the World: Biology and Aquaculture. AquaTech Publications, Kitzbuehel/Austria. 207 pages. Mayden R.L., Kuhajda B.R., 1996: Systematics, Taxonomy, and Conservation Status of the Endangered Alabama Sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus suttkusi Williams and Clemmer (Actinopterygii, Acipenseridae). Copeia, 2: 241-273. North J.A., Farr R.A., Vecsei P., 2002: A comparison of meristic and morphometric characters of green sturgeon Acipenser medirostris. J. Appl. Ichthyol., 18(4-6): 234-239. Scott W.B., Crossman E.J., 1973: Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada. 966 pages. Timme, S.L. 1991. How to construct and use a dichotomous key. Pages 101-110, in Tested studies for laboratory teaching. Volume 12. (C. A. Goldman, Editor). Proceedings of the 12th Workshop/Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education, 218 pp Vecsei P., Charette R., Trukshin I., Maliepaard T., Hochleithner M., Lafleur Y., 2001: CITES Identification Guide - Sturgeons and Paddlefish. Environment Canada. 180 pages. Glossary Acid-base characteristics: acid (H+) and base (OH-) equivalents, often expressed as pH (negative logarithm10 of the hydrogen ion activity, in solutions.) Amphihaline: fish whose life cycle include both a freshwater and marine component. Anadromous: fish ascending rivers from the sea to breed. Anaerobic metabolism: metabolism in the absence of free oxygen. Animal pole/hemisphere: the end/half of the oocyte or early embryo containing relatively more cytoplasm and less yolk. Frequently the location of the mature germinal vesicle, and thus fertilization. The animal-vegetal axis is established maternally during oogenesis. Archenteron: the primitive gut cavity that forms within the embryo as a result of gastrulation. Arterial: P50: half-saturation value of blood, under arterial CO2 and pH conditions. Atresia: the resorption of the ovarian follicles by degenerative processes during late vitellogenesis, or before the female undergoes final maturation and spawning. Blastomeres: individual cells within an early (pre-gastrula) embryo. Blastula: a multicellular embryo that has mostly or entirely completed cleavage, but in which the large-scale movements of gastrulation have not yet begun. Blood O2 affinity: binding affinity of the blood for oxygen, expressed as P50. Breeding interval: time between consecutive breedings of individual. Chloride cells: mitochondria-rich cells (e.g., in gill tissue) that move chloride (and sodium) against their concentration gradients. Chorion: a tough protective extracellular layer surrounding the oocyte and developing embryo. Cortical reaction: the process in which the cortical alveoli fuse to the plasma membrane of the oocyte, and release their contents into the space between the plasma membrane and egg chorion. The cortical vesicles contain enzymes, structural proteins and other glycoproteins. The cortical reaction renders separation of the chorion from the plasma membrane, imparts tonicity and strengthens the chorion (‘water hardening’), and prevents fertilization by multiple sperm (‘block to polyspermy’). 319 320 GLOSSARY Cortisol: glucocorticoid hormone secreted by the interrenal gland and involved in stress response Dimorphism: the appearance of two distinct forms such as size, structure, colour, etc.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Federal Register/Vol. 70, No. 189/Friday, September 30, 2005
    57316 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 189 / Friday, September 30, 2005 / Notices Dated: September 22, 2005. 2. Chairman’s Report. ADDRESSES: Caspian Sea littoral states Mark R. Johnston, 3. Executive Director’s Report. wishing to provide information that may Director, Office of Special Needs Assistance 4. Financial Budget. allow us to lift this trade suspension Programs. 5. Public Input. may submit it by any one of several [FR Doc. 05–19298 Filed 9–29–05; 8:45 am] It is anticipated that about twenty-five methods: people will be able to attend the session BILLING CODE 4210–29–M 1. You may submit written in addition to the Commission information to Robert R. Gabel, Chief, members. Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Interested persons may make oral or INTER-AMERICAN FOUNDATION Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North written presentations to the Commission Fairfax Drive, Room 750, Arlington, or file written statements. Such requests Sunshine Act Meeting; Agenda for Virginia 22203. should be made prior to the meeting to: board of Directors’ Meeting 2. You may hand-deliver written Larry Gall, Interim Executive Director, information to the Division of Scientific October 14, 2005, 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. John H. Chafee, Blackstone River Valley Authority, at the above address, or fax The meeting will be held at the Inter- National Heritage Corridor Commission, your comments to (703) 358–2276. American Foundation, 901 N. Stuart One Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI 3. You may send information by Street, 10th Floor, Arlington, Virginia 02895, Tel.: (401) 762–0250. electronic mail (e-mail) to 22203.
    [Show full text]
  • The Holocene Occurrence of Acipenser Spp. in the Southern North Sea: the Archaeological Record
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Lirias Journal of Fish Biology (2016) doi:10.1111/jfb.13094, available online at wileyonlinelibrary.com The Holocene occurrence of Acipenser spp. in the southern North Sea: the archaeological record E. Thieren*†, A. Ervynck‡, D. Brinkhuizen§, A. Locker‖ and W. Van Neer*¶ *Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium, †Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Ch. Debériotstraat 32, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium, ‡Flanders Heritage, Koning Albert II-laan 19 box 5, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium , §Koninginnelaan 18A, 9717 BT, Groningen, The Netherlands and ‖Edifici L’Ingla, Atic 1a, 58 Avenguda del Pessebre, Escaldes-Engordany, AD700, Andorra (Received 3 June 2015, Accepted 23 June 2016) Archaeological sturgeon remains from the southern North Sea basin used to be automatically attributed to Acipenser sturio, since this was the only acipenserid species believed to occur there. These species identifications, however, were in need of revision after a growing number of indications were foundfor the historical presence of Acipenser oxyrinchus in western Europe. In this study, morphological and genetic data on sturgeon remains from archaeological sites along the southern North Sea are revised. A large number of Dutch, Belgian, British and some French archaeological sturgeon remains, dating from the Mesolithic up to Late Modern times, are morphologically examined and fish sizes are reconstructed. This study of >7000 acipenserid bones proves the sympatric occurrence of European sturgeon A. sturio and Atlantic sturgeon A. oxyrinchus in the southern North Sea at least since the Neolithic (fourth millennium BC onwards), with A.
    [Show full text]
  • Sturgeons of the Caspian Sea and Ural River
    Photo and image credits: Front Cover: Top left, beluga sturgeon (Huso huso); Top Right: Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii); Bottom: stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus); Todd Stailey, Tennessee Aquarium. Back Cover: “FISH IS OUR TREASURE”, Phaedra Doukakis, Ph. D. IOCS; Page 1: Shannon Crownover, The Nature Conservancy; Page 6, 9, 10, 11: Phaedra Doukakis, Ph. D., IOCS; Page 4, 5, 7 designed by Grace Lewis. Brochure content was developed by Alison Ormsby, Ph.D. and Phaedra Doukakis, Ph. D. with editorial review by Yael Wyner, Ph. D. Layout was designed by Grace Lewis. The brochure was developed under a generous grant from Agip KCO. Agip KCO Tel.: international line: 1, K. Smagulov Street +39 02 9138 3300 Atyrau, 06002 Tel: local lines: Republic of Kazakhstan (+7) 7122 92 3300 Fax: (+7) 7122 92 3310 Designed and printed in Kazakhstan www.agipkco.com Sturgeons of the Caspian Sea and Ural River www.oceanconservationscience.org A Unique and Precious Resource What are Sturgeon? River, other rivers off the Caspian Sea are used by sturgeons for With bony plates called scutes on their bodies and ancestors that reproduction, including the Volga River in Russia and the Kura date to the time of dinosaurs, sturgeons are unusual fish. Unlike River in Azerbaijan. However, dams on the Volga and Kura have other types of fish, sturgeons have scutes instead of scales. blocked sturgeons from being able to migrate upriver, and have changed the quality of the rivers so they are no longer able to support sturgeon reproduction. Reproduction: For sturgeon, the process of mixing female eggs and male sperm to create a fertilized egg that hatches into a baby sturgeon.
    [Show full text]
  • Pan-European Action Plan for Sturgeons
    Strasbourg, 30 November 2018 T-PVS/Inf(2018)6 [Inf06e_2018.docx] CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HABITATS Standing Committee 38th meeting Strasbourg, 27-30 November 2018 PAN-EUROPEAN ACTION PLAN FOR STURGEONS Document prepared by the World Sturgeon Conservation Society and WWF This document will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy. Ce document ne sera plus distribué en réunion. Prière de vous munir de cet exemplaire. T-PVS/Inf(2018)6 - 2 - Pan-European Action Plan for Sturgeons Multi Species Action Plan for the: Russian sturgeon complex (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, A. persicus-colchicus), Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii), Ship sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris), Atlantic/Baltic sturgeon, (Acipenser oxyrinchus), Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), Stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus), European/Common sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), and Beluga (Huso huso). Geographical Scope: European Union and neighbouring countries with shared basins such as the Black Sea, Mediterranean, North Eastern Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and Baltic Sea Intended Lifespan of Plan: 2019 – 2029 Russian Sturgeon Adriatic Sturgeon Ship Sturgeon Atlantic or Baltic complex Sturgeon Sterlet Stellate Sturgeon Beluga European/Common Sturgeon © M. Roggo f. A. sturio; © Thomas Friedrich for all others Supported by - 3 - T-PVS/Inf(2018)6 GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE: The Action Plan in general addresses the entire Bern Convention scope (51 Contracting Parties, including the European Union) and in particular the countries with shared sturgeon waters in Europe. As such, it focuses primarily on the sea basins in Europe: Black Sea, Mediterranean, North-East Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea, and the main rivers with relevant current or historic sturgeon populations (see Table 2).
    [Show full text]
  • Diet and Growth of 1+ Siberian Sturgeon, Acipenser Baerii in Alternative Pond Culture
    Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 7: 153-160 (2007) Diet and Growth of 1+ Siberian Sturgeon, Acipenser baerii in Alternative Pond Culture Zdeněk Adámek1,*, Miroslav Prokeš2, Vlastimil Baruš2, Ivo Sukop3 1 Research Inst. of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic. 2 Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic. 3 Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Nejdecká 600, 691 44 Lednice na Moravě, Czech Republic. * Corresponding Author: Tel: +420 543 422 523; Fax: +420 543 211 346; Received 16 July 2007 E-mail: [email protected] Accepted 20 September 2007 Abstract The culture of 1+ Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) was performed in concrete storage ponds with natural water temperature regime during the growing season. Fish were separated into two groups – with supplementary feeding using trout -1 pellets (FF) and control variant (CF). Specific growth rates in FF and CF were 0.26 and 0.16%.day in length and 0.53 and 0.18%.day-1 in weight, respectively. The average indices of weight condition rose from initial 0.377 and 0.372 to final values of 0.393 and 0.322 in FF and CF, respectively. Fish diet consisted of 25 food items. Chironomid larvae, cladocerans (Daphnia sp.) and detritus prevailed in fish guts with 40.4 – 52.8, 19.1 - 28.8 and 16.3 – 19.4%, respectively. Pelleted feed occurred in 8.7% proportion in one third of examined FF fish.
    [Show full text]
  • The Key Threats to Sturgeons and Measures for Their Protection in the Lower Danube Region
    THE KEY THREATS TO STURGEONS AND MEASURES FOR THEIR PROTECTION IN THE LOWER DANUBE REGION MIRJANA LENHARDT* Institute for Biological Research, Serbia IVAN JARIĆ, GORČIN CVIJANOVIĆ AND MARIJA SMEDEREVAC-LALIĆ Center for Multidisciplinary Studies, Serbia Abstract The six native sturgeon species have been commercially harvested in the Danube Basin for more than 2,000 years, with rapid decrease in catch by mid 19th century. Addi- tional negative effect on sturgeon populations in the Danube River was river regulation in Djerdap region, due to navigation in the late 19th century, as well as dam construction in the second half of 20th century that blocked sturgeon spawning migrations. Beside over- fishing and habitat loss, illegal trade, life history characteristics of sturgeon, lack of effective management (due to lack of transboundary cooperation and change in political situa- tion in Lower Danube Region countries) and pollution all pose serious threats on sturgeon populations in Lower Danube Region. International measures established by the Conven- tion on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in late 20th century, listing of beluga (Huso huso) as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, as well as development of Action plan for conservation of sturgeons in the Danube River Basin, had significant impact on activities related to sturgeon protection at beginning of 21st century. These actions were aimed towards diminishment of pressure on natural sturgeon populations and aquaculture development in countries of Lower Danube Region. The main goal of the Action Plan was to raise public awareness and to create a common framework for implementation of urgent measures.
    [Show full text]
  • 2012 Wildearth Guardians and Friends of Animals Petition to List
    PETITION TO LIST Fifteen Species of Sturgeon UNDER THE U.S. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT Submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service March 8, 2012 Petitioners WildEarth Guardians Friends of Animals 1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 301 777 Post Road, Suite 205 Denver, Colorado 80202 Darien, Connecticut 06820 303.573.4898 203.656.1522 INTRODUCTION WildEarth Guardians and Friends of Animals hereby petitions the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)1 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (hereinafter referred as the Secretary), to list fifteen critically endangered sturgeon species as “threatened” or “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.). The fifteen petitioned sturgeon species, grouped by geographic region, are: I. Western Europe (1) Acipenser naccarii (Adriatic Sturgeon) (2) Acipenser sturio (Atlantic Sturgeon/Baltic Sturgeon/Common Sturgeon) II. Caspian Sea/Black Sea/Sea of Azov (3) Acipenser gueldenstaedtii (Russian Sturgeon) (4) Acipenser nudiventris (Ship Sturgeon/Bastard Sturgeon/Fringebarbel Sturgeon/Spiny Sturgeon/Thorn Sturgeon) (5) Acipenser persicus (Persian Sturgeon) (6) Acipenser stellatus (Stellate Sturgeon/Star Sturgeon) III. Aral Sea and Tributaries (endemics) (7) Pseudoscaphirhynchus fedtschenkoi (Syr-darya Shovelnose Sturgeon/Syr Darya Sturgeon) (8) Pseudoscaphirhynchus hermanni (Dwarf Sturgeon/Little Amu-Darya Shovelnose/Little Shovelnose Sturgeon/Small Amu-dar Shovelnose Sturgeon) (9) Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni (False Shovelnose Sturgeon/Amu Darya Shovelnose Sturgeon/Amu Darya Sturgeon/Big Amu Darya Shovelnose/Large Amu-dar Shovelnose Sturgeon/Shovelfish) IV. Amur River Basin/Sea of Japan/Sea of Okhotsk (10) Acipenser mikadoi (Sakhalin Sturgeon) (11) Acipenser schrenckii (Amur Sturgeon) (12) Huso dauricus (Kaluga) V.
    [Show full text]
  • Acipenser Oxyrinchus) Ecological Risk Screening Summary
    Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) Ecological Risk Screening Summary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, web version – 03/29/2018 Photo: Simon Pierre Barrette. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acipenser_oxyrinchus_PAQ.jpg. 1 Native Range and Status in the United States Native Range From Froese and Pauly (2014): “Western Atlantic: Hamilton River, Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada to northeastern Florida, USA. Occurs occasionally in Bermuda and French Guiana [Robins and Ray 1986]. Northern Gulf of Mexico [Smith 1997]. In Europe: Baltic Sea. Landlocked populations in Lakes Ladoga and Onega (Russia), both now extirpated. Occasionally recorded from Great Britain and North Sea in Elbe drainage [Kottelat and Freyhof 2007]. Recent research revealed that this species existed in the Baltic Sea, but is now extirpated [Ludwig et al. 2002, 2008].” 1 Status in the United States From Froese and Pauly (2014): “USA: native” From NOAA Fisheries (2016): “Historically, Atlantic sturgeon were present in approximately 38 rivers in the United States from St. Croix, ME to the Saint Johns River, FL, of which 35 rivers have been confirmed to have had a historical spawning population. Atlantic sturgeon are currently present in approximately 32 of these rivers, and spawning occurs in at least 20 of them.” GBIF Secretariat (2014) contains a record in California that is assumed to be a misidentification as it is from 1956 and not substantiated elsewhere. Means of Introductions in the United States No records of non-native Acipenser oxyrinchus introductions in the United States were found. Remarks From Froese and Pauly (2014): “Near threatened globally, but extirpated in Europe [Kottelat and Freyhof 2007].
    [Show full text]
  • Yangtze Sturgeon (Acipenser Dabryanus) - Sturgeons
    Pond Life - Yangtze Sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus) - Sturgeons http://www.pond-life.me.uk/sturgeon/acipenserdabryanus.php Search Pond Life... Home Sturgeons Koi Other Fish Fish Health Ponds Plants Forums Contents Yangtze Sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus) Home Sturgeons Acipenseriformes Sturgeon Food & Feeding Sturgeon Care Sheet Sturgeon Guide Sturgeon Species List Adriatic Sturgeon Alabama Sturgeon Amu Darya Sturgeon Amur Sturgeon Atlantic Sturgeon Beluga Sturgeon Chinese Paddlefish Chinese Sturgeon Yangtze Sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus) photo from the website of CAFS Common Sturgeon (http://zzzy.fishinfo.cn/) Diamond Sturgeon Dwarf Sturgeon by Karen Paul Green Sturgeon Description: The Yangtze Sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus) has 8-13 dorsal scutes, 26-39 lateral Gulf Sturgeon scutes, 9-13 ventral scutes, 44-57 dorsal fin rays and 25-36 anal fin rays. Colouration ranges from Kaluga Sturgeon dark grey to brown-grey on the back to white on the ventral side. The body is rough because it is Lake Sturgeon covered with small pointed denticles. The four barbels are located closer to the mouth than the end Paddlefish of the snout. The Yangtze Sturgeon can reach 1.3 meters in length and a weight of 16kg. Pallid Sturgeon Persian Sturgeon Sakhalin Sturgeon Ship Sturgeon Shortnose Sturgeon Shovelnose Sturgeon Siberian Sturgeon Stellate Sturgeon Sterlet Syr Darya Sturgeon White Sturgeon Yangtze Sturgeon Sturgeon Videos Koi Other Fish Fish Health Yangtze Sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus) photo from the website of CAFS Ponds (http://zzzy.fishinfo.cn/) Plants Forums Wild Distribution: Asia; restricted to the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River system, Search rarely seen below the Gezhouba Dam. The Yangtze Sturgeon is a potamodromous (freshwater only) species.
    [Show full text]
  • Brochure: Sturgeon Identification Guide
    Andrey Nekrasov © Photo: STURGEON IDENTIFICATION GUIDE Identification of Sturgeon Species This guide was designed to support the identification of sturgeon species that can be found in the Danube and the Black Sea. It describes seven sturgeon species - one of them an exotic species popular in aquaculture - and three hybrids. The guide also offers detailed features that can be used to differentiate between the species. The primary goal of this guide is to help law enforcement officials identify sturgeon species they may encounter through their work. WHAT IS A STURGEON? Sturgeons and paddlefishes, also referred to scientifically as Acipenseriformes, are a group of ancient fish originating more than 200 million years ago. They migrate mostly in order to spawn and live in freshwater, coastal waters and seas of the Northern Hemisphere. According to the IUCN*, 23 of the 27 species are on the brink of extinction, being thus the most critically endangered group of species on Earth. *International Union for Conservation of Nature Sturgeons have quite unique features: Depending on the species, Five rows of bony scutes: Two nostrils on the snout smaller scutes can also be one row along the back, found in between the rows two along both sides, If a fish has only of the larger scutes, behind and two on the belly one nostril, it is the dorsal fin and along the most likely from anal fin, which can be a very aquaculture. important characteristic for differentiation. Four barbels in front of the © Rosen Bonov mouth, either closer to the mouth or closer to the tip of the snout Photo: A heterocercal tail, meaning Either a round or a pointed the upper lobe of the tail fin is snout with the mouth sitting longer than the lower lobe on the bottom of the head An individual from aquaculture, Austria 2018 Beluga (Huso huso) The color is steel grayish-blue With adult individuals, the side scutes are the colour of the body and number around 40-50 The mouth is very big, crescent shaped and reaches the edges of The barbels the head.
    [Show full text]
  • Is There Evidence That the Chinese Paddlefish (Psephurus Gladius) Still
    Journal of Applied Ichthyology J. Appl. Ichthyol. 25 (Suppl. 2) (2009), 95–99 Received: September 19, 2008 Ó 2009 The Authors Accepted: December 22, 2008 Journal compilation Ó 2009 Blackwell Verlag GmbH doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2009.01268.x ISSN 0175–8659 Is there evidence that the Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius) still survives in the upper Yangtze River? Concerns inferred from hydroacoustic and capture surveys, 2006–2008 By H. Zhang1,2,Q.W.Wei1,2,3,H.Du2,3, L. Shen2,3,Y.H.Li1,2 and Y. Zhao1,2 1College of Fishery, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; 2Key Laboratory of Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science, Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China; 3Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China Summary to save rare and endemic fish species (Fu et al., 2003). Due to the rarity of Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius), very P. gladius has been considered as one of the most important little information is available on this species. In order to save ÔflagshipÕ species in conservation, with an integrated rescue this critically endangered giant species, four large-range hydro- programme initiated in 2005. This extensive programme acoustic surveys (using an echo sounder with a 199 kHz, 6.8° includes studies on forage fishes and habitat investigations, split-beam transducer) and capture surveys (by drift nets and captive breeding programmes and propagation for release, setlines) were conducted in the upper Yangtze River during preservation of genetic resources, and even cloning.
    [Show full text]
  • Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife's Animal Information Series: Paddlefish
    Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Animal Information Series Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) Do they have any other names? Paddlefish are also called spoonbill, spoonbill cat, shovelnose cat, and boneless cat. Why are they called paddlefish? They are called paddlefish because of their paddle-like nose. Polyodon is Greek for “many tooth” in reference to the numerous long gill rakers and spathula is Latin for “spatula” or “blade.” What do they look like? Paddlefish are shark-like fish with long, paddle-shaped snouts. They have large mouths, without teeth, that are located far back on the underside of the head. Paddlefish have many gill rakers (filaments used to filter food from the water) that are long and slender. The eyes are small and just above the front edge of the mouth. The rear margin of the gill cover is long and pointed into a fleshy flap. The tail is deeply lobed with the upper lobe longer than the lower lobe. The skin is without scales and the skeleton is made of cartilage. Paddlefish are bluish-gray to black on the upper parts and light gray to white on the belly. Photo Credit: Duane Raver, USFWS Where do they live in Indiana? Paddlefish are rare to occasional in Indiana and they live in large rivers. What kind of habitat do they need? A paddlefish needs very specific habitat conditions to meet its needs. During most of its life it lives in quiet or slow-flowing waters rich in the microscopic life (zooplankton) on which it feeds. However, it must have access to a large, free-flowing river with gravel bars that flood frequently during its spawning season.
    [Show full text]