Details
Huso huso
The beluga sturgeon is a giant fish moving between Eurasian seas and great rivers. Cathemeral adults range loosely while searching for prey.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses coastal waters of the Black and Caspian Sea regions and large rivers for spawning. Open migration routes and gravelly spawning reaches are vital.
Length is about 200-700 cm and weight about 200-1,500 kg. A long body, rows of bony scutes, underslung mouth, and sensory barbels mark this ancient fish.
Activity is flexible, and adults move through broad waters. During spawning periods, they ascend rivers and use deep channels and currents.
It is carnivorous, taking fish and bottom animals. Sensory barbels help locate prey near the bottom before it is sucked in.
Spawning occurs in flowing river sections where eggs adhere to the substrate. Slow maturity and long generation times limit recovery.
Its status is listed as Critically Endangered. River barriers, overharvest, and water degradation make migration-route protection essential.
