Sterlet sturgeon
📖 Overview
A fluvial fish which inhabits rivers and their tributaries . Occurs in large rivers, usually in the current and in deep water. Moves to flooded areas to feed . Chiefly potamodromous . Like other sturgeons, it aggregates in bottom holes in winter and exhibits little activity. In spring, when ice breaks, it rises from the bottom holes and moves upstream for spawning . Spawns in habitats with strong-current on gravel, rarely on gravel-sand bottom or in flooded sites. Juveniles stay in riverine habitats during their first summer. Classified as endangered species. Anadromous populations are now extirpated; local populations are still surviving in most parts of range .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28; Anal spines: 9; Anal soft rays: 14 - 18. Back and flanks are beige. Five rows of scutes : 12-17D, 57-71L, 10-19V. Ventrals and laterals are very light-colored, nearly white. Narrow and pointed snout with four long and fringed barbels. Inferior lip clearly slit . Can be diagnosed from congeners in Europe by having 56-71 lateral scutes, first dorsal scute not fused with head, barbels fimbriate, lower lip interrupted in middle and 11-27 gill rakers .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sterlet sturgeon is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
The sterlet's main source of food is benthic organisms; they commonly feed on crustaceans, worms, and insect larvae.
🥚 Reproduction
Scatters eggs on gravel.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous ; depth range 1 - ? m. Temperate; 71°N - 36°N, 11°E - 111°E
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Sterlet sturgeon is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17.6 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 408 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Sterlet sturgeon has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Sterlet · Sterlet sturgeon |
| 🌍BUL | chiga · chigа · Чига |
| 🌍CES | Jeseter malý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Sterlet |
| 🇩🇪German | Sterlet · Sterlett |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Sterletti |
| 🇫🇷French | Esturgeon de Sibérie · Esturgeon du Danube, Sterlet · Sterlet |
| 🌍HEB | חדקן גמדי |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Kecsege |
| 🇮🇹Italian | storione sterleto |
| 🌍LIT | sterlė |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | sterlet |
| 🌍NNO | sterlett |
| 🌍NOB | sterlett |
| 🇳🇴Norwegian | Sterlett |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Sterlet a. czeczuga · czeczuga · sterlet |
| 🌍RON | Cega · Cigã |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Осетр стерлядь · стерлядь |
| 🌍SLV | kečiga |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Esterlete · Esturión de Siberia |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Sterlett |
| 🌍TUR | ciga baligi · ciga balığı · cuka · çoka balığı |
| 🌍UKR | Осетер стерлядь · Стерлядь · Стерлядь прісноводна |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acipenser dubius | Heckel | 1836 | Synonym |
| Acipenser gmelini | Fitzinger | 1836 | Synonym |
| Acipenser jeniscensis | Herzenstein | 1895 | Synonym |
| Acipenser jenisensis | Herzenstein | 1895 | Synonym |
| Acipenser kamensis | Lovetsky | 1834 | Synonym |
| Acipenser kankreni | Duméril | 1870 | Synonym |
| Acipenser koster | Gmelin | 1789 | Synonym |
| Acipenser kostera | Fitzinger | 1832 | Synonym |
| Acipenser lovetzkyi | Duméril | 1870 | Synonym |
| Acipenser marsiglii | Brandt | 1833 | Synonym |
| Acipenser pygmaeus | Pallas | 1814 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenicus | Brusina | 1902 | Heterotypic |
| Acipenser ruthensis | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus alba | Antipa | 1909 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus albinea | Brusina | 1902 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus birostrata | Brusina | 1902 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus brevirostris | Antipa | 1909 | Heterotypic |
| Acipenser ruthenus erytraea | Antipa | 1909 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus grisescens | Brandt | 1853 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus leucotica | Brandt | 1853 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus obtusirostra | Brusina | 1902 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus obtusirostris | Brusina | 1902 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus rutzskyi | Johansen | 1946 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus ruzskyi | Johansen | 1946 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ruthenus septemcarinata | Brusina | 1902 | Synonym |
| Acipenser sterlet | Brusina | 1902 | Heterotypic |
| Sterledus ruthenus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Sterledus ruthenus sibiricus | Dybowski | 1874 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 13 records indexed .
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