Shovelnose sturgeon
📖 Overview
Adults occur in the bottom of main channels and embayments of large turbid rivers; frequently in flowing water over sand and mixed with gravel and mud. They feed primarily on larvae of aquatic insects (especially burrowing mayflies, caddis larvae and midge larvae ), worms, and crustaceans . Spawning occurs from April to June in large rivers in areas of swift current and coarse substrates .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Bases of outer barbels in line with or ahead of inner barbels .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Shovelnose sturgeon is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous . Temperate; 10°C - 20°C ; 50°N - 30°N North America: USA in Mississippi River basin from west Pennsylvania to Montana and south to Louisiana; Mobile Bay drainage, Alabama and Mississippi; upper Rio Grande, New Mexico.
🌿 Ecology
larvae of aquatic insects (especially burrowing mayflies, caddis larvae and midge larvae (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Shovelnose 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
Detailed nutritional data for Shovelnose sturgeon is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Shovelnose 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 | Hackleback · Sand Sturgeon · Switchtail · shovelnose sturgeon |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | حفش الرمال · حفش مجرفي الأنف |
| 🌍CES | lopatonos americký |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Almindelig skovlhovedstør |
| 🇩🇪German | Amerikanischer Schaufelstör · Gewöhnlicher Schaufelstör · Schaufelstör |
| 🇮🇹Italian | storione dal naso a pala |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Łopatonos amerykański |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Обыкновенный лопатонос |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | esturión pala |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accipenser platorynchus | Rafinesque | 1820 | Synonym |
| Scaphirhincus platorhynchus | Rafinesque | 1820 | Synonym |
| Scaphirhynchus platyrhynchus | Rafinesque | 1820 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 17 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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