A massive armored fish that can exceed 200 pounds and 150 years of age. Lake sturgeon nearly vanished from the Great Lakes in the 1900s but careful restoration is bringing them back.

Native status: Native; populations slowly recovering

§ Quick facts

SizeAdult length 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)
Weight30–90 kg (66–200 lb); largest documented 140 kg
Lifespan100+ years; some individuals over 150
OrderAcipenseriformes
FamilyAcipenseridae

§ Identification

Field marks. Long armored sturgeon with rows of bony plates; gray-tan body; bony "scutes" on body.

Similar species. Shortnose Sturgeon (smaller, blunt snout). Atlantic Sturgeon (smaller scutes, marine).

Voice. Silent.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Bottom-feeder: small fish, mollusks, crustaceans, insects.

Behavior. Among the longest-lived freshwater fish in North America. Late-maturing (15–25 years to first spawn). Heavily over-harvested historically; recovery has been slow.

§ Range

Great Lakes, Mississippi, Hudson Bay drainages

§ Habitat

Large rivers, deep lakes

§ Threats

Dams blocking spawning, historic overfishing, pollution, slow reproduction.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the lake sturgeon is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support sturgeon restoration programs. Practice strict catch-and-release. Push for dam removals.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • NOAA Fisheries
  • USFWS Lake Sturgeon Recovery
  • Lake Sturgeon Coordinating Committee
  • IUCN Red List 2017