Starry sturgeon
📖 Overview
At the sea, it occurs in coastal and estuarine zones and forages on the bottom mostly on clayey sand and intensively in the middle and upper water layers . Found mainly near shore over sand and mud, stays at the bottom during the day and rises to the surface to feed at night. Feeds mainly on fish, also mollusks, crustaceans and worms . Spawns in strong-current habitats in main course of large and deep rivers, on stone or gravel bottom. Spawning also takes place on flooded river banks and if gravel bottom is not available, on sand or sandy clay. Juveniles stay in shallow riverine habitats during first summer . One of the three most important species for caviar; also utilized fresh and frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled and baked . Overfishing at the sea for meat and caviar will soon cause extinction of the natural populations and their survival can only depend on stocking .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 40 - 46; Anal soft rays: 24 - 29. Snout long, pointed at tip. Lower lip not continuous, interrupted at center. Barbels short not reaching mouth but nearer to it than to tip of snout. Five rows of scutes, dorsal 11-14, lateral 30-36 on each side, ventral 10-11 on each side, with small bony stellate plates and smaller grains between main scute rows. Back dark grey to almost black, flanks lighter, belly white.: elongated; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Starry sturgeon is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous ; depth range 10 - 100 m. Temperate; 10°C - 20°C ; 61°N - 36°N, 13°E - 54°E
🌿 Ecology
fish, also mollusks, crustaceans and worms (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Starry 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 | 17.8 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 385 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Starry 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 | Sevruga · Star sturgeon · Starry sturgeon · Stellate Sturgeon |
| 🌍AZE | Ag-Balyg · Uzun-burun |
| 🌍BUL | pastruga · pastrugа · Пъструга |
| 🇩🇪German | Scherg · Sternhausen |
| 🌍ELL | Aστροξυρύχι · Αστροξυρίχι · Αστροξυρύχι |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Tähtisampi |
| 🇫🇷French | Esturgeon étoilé · Sevruga |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Söregtok |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Storione stellato |
| 🌍KAZ | Shokkyr |
| 🌍LIT | žvaigždėtasis eršketas |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | spitssnuitsteur · stersteur |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Siewruga |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Esturjâo estrelado · Esturjão-estrelado |
| 🌍RON | Pastruga |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Sevryuga · Shevriga · Осетр севрюга · севрюга |
| 🌍SLV | sevruga |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Esturión estrellado |
| 🌍SQI | Bli turigjate · blini me yje · blini turigjatë |
| 🌍SRP | Pastruga |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Stjärnstör |
| 🌍TUK | Tirana |
| 🌍TUR | Mersin baligi · mersin balığı |
| 🌍UKR | Осетер севрюга · Севрюга · Севрюга звичайна |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acipenser helops | Pallas | 1814 | Synonym |
| Acipenser ratzeburgii | Brandt | 1833 | Synonym |
| Acipenser rostratus | Brandt & Ratzeburg | 1833 | Heterotypic |
| Acipenser seuruga | Bonnaterre | 1788 | Synonym |
| Acipenser stellatus danubialis | Brusina | 1902 | Synonym |
| Acipenser stellatus donensis | Lovetsky | 1834 | Synonym |
| Acipenser stellatus illyricus | Brusina | 1902 | Synonym |
| Acipenser stellatus stellatus | - | - | Homotypic |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 8 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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