Sterlet
D-Sterlet; GB-Sterlet, sterlet sturgeon; DK-Sterlet; PL-Sterlet; EST-Sterlet; RU-Стерлядь; FIN-Sterletti; S-Sterlett
Characters
1) long snout (distance from tip of snout to the eye longer than from the eye to the end of the operculum).
2) four fringed barbels on the bottomside of the mouth.
●) lateral scutes small and numerous (56 to 71).
●) no denticles between dorsal and lateral scutes.
Often about 40 cm, max. up to 1,2 m length and 16 kg weight.
Similar species
Atlantic sturgeon - barbels without ramifications; large scutes; denticles between dorsal and lateral scutes.
Siberian sturgeon - barbels without ramifications.
Danube sturgeon - snout short; barbels without ramifications.
Biology
Sedentary in fresh waters, with some exceptions in the northern part of the Caspian Sea. After reaching sexual maturity, males with 3 to 5 years and females with 5 to 8 years, about 135.000 eggs can be laid.Diet
They feed on bottom living insect larvae, other invertebrates and also on fish spawn.Importance
Commercially important as food fish and for production of caviar; often bred in aquaculture.Endangerment
Not native in the Baltic Sea. In the original distribution area threatened due to overfishing and loss of spawning areas.Acipenser ruthenus
