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Structured Inquiry Search — preview

• Home
• Kingdom Animalia
• Phylum Chordata
• Subphylum Vertebrata
• Superclass Gnathostomata
• Class Actinopterygii
• Order Acipenseriformes
• Family Acipenseridae

• Information
• Pictures
• Classification

By Tanya Dewey

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Acipenseriformes

Family: Acipenseridae

Members of this Family

There are 23 species of sturgeons, all found in the northern hemisphere. They are mostly found in large, freshwater lakes and rivers but some species also travel to the ocean and return to rivers and lakes to breed. Sturgeons can grow to be very large, up to 4.2 meters. Sturgeons have rows of large, bony scutes on their bodies. Their mouths are positioned ventrally and have 4 barbels. All sturgeon species have been extensively used by humans for their meat and their roe. As a result, all sturgeon species are either threatened or endangered.

For More Information

Find Acipenseridae information at

• Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Tanya Dewey (author), Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

To cite this page: Dewey, T. . "Acipenseridae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 13, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Acipenseridae.html

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

Sponsored in part by the Interagency Education Research Initiative,
the Homeland Foundation and the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants DUE-0633095 and DRL-0628151.
The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support. Report Error — Comment
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