A pale prehistoric-looking sturgeon native to the Missouri-Mississippi system. Federally endangered; one of the rarest fish in North America. Captive breeding is keeping the species alive.

Also called: White Sturgeon (regional misnomer)

Native status: Native; federally endangered

§ Quick facts

SizeLength 75–150 cm (30–60 in); record 188 cm
WeightAverage 18–36 kg (40–80 lb); record 39 kg
LifespanWild 41+ years
OrderAcipenseriformes
FamilyAcipenseridae

§ Encyclopedia

The pallid sturgeon is an endangered species of ray-finned fish, endemic to the waters of the Missouri and lower Mississippi River basins of the United States. It may have even reached the St. Croix River before colonization.

Source: Wikipedia — Pallid sturgeon Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Long flattened body with rows of bony plates; long shovel-like snout; four whisker-like barbels in a transverse row in front of mouth. Distinguished from Shovelnose Sturgeon by larger size, longer outer barbels, and pale color.

Similar species. Shovelnose Sturgeon (smaller, darker, more common; hybridizes with pallid in degraded habitats). Lake Sturgeon (different range, different shape).

Voice. Silent.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans. Bottom feeder with toothless protrusible mouth.

Behavior. Federally endangered (1990). Endemic to the Missouri and Mississippi River systems. Naturally rare and slow-reproducing (sexual maturity 5–7 years for males, 15–20 for females). Dam construction on the Missouri eliminated the long free-flowing reaches sturgeon need for spawning. Hatchery program at USFWS Gavins Point releases ~100,000 fingerlings annually but wild reproduction is minimal.

§ Range

Missouri and Mississippi River drainages

§ Habitat

Large turbid rivers

§ Threats

Dams eliminating spawning conditions, river channelization, hybridization with shovelnose sturgeon.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the pallid sturgeon is currently classified as Endangered.

§ What helps

Support river free-flow restoration. Donate to pallid sturgeon recovery. Don't move sturgeon between waterways.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • USFWS Pallid Sturgeon Recovery
  • USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center
  • IUCN Red List 2018