Japanese sturgeon

Japanese sturgeon
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Acipenseriformes
Family:	Acipenseridae
Genus:	Acipenser
Species:	A. schrenckii
Binomial name
Acipenser schrenckii J. F. Brandt, 1869
Synonyms
Acipenser baeri schrencki Brandt, 1869 Sturio schrenckii (Brandt, 1869) Acipenser schrencki Brandt, 1869 Acipenser schrenki Brandt, 1869 Acipenser multiscutatus Tanaka, 1908

The Japanese sturgeon, or Amur sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii) is a species of fish in the Acipenseridae family that can be found in the Amur River basin in China and Russia. Claims of its presence in the Sea of Japan need confirmation. The species has 11–16 dorsal, 34–47 lateral, and 7–16 ventral scutes. Their dorsal fins have 38–53 rays and 20–35 anal fin rays. They also have greyish-brown backs and pale ventral sides. The species could reach up to 3 m in length, and weight over 190 kg. The species is considered to be critically endangered.

Habitat and ecology

The Japanese sturgeon is benthic. The females mature at 9–10 years of age, and males at 7–8 years. They start to migrate in the autumn. They live for 65 years.

References

• Sturgeon Specialist Group 1996. Acipenser schrenckii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 3 August 2007.

Further reading

• Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno and T. Yoshino (1984). The fishes of the Japanese Archipelago. Vol. 1 (text). Tokai University Press, Tokyo, Japan. 437 p. (text), 370 pls.
• Journal Coll. Sci. Imp.Univ.,Tokyo, "23", (7).
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility http://data.gbif.org/species/13576254/. Viewed January 27, 2010.