Fun Beluga Sturgeon Facts For Kids
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Beluga sturgeons (or Huso huso) are known to be one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world. They mostly live in the Caspian sea. The scientific name for a beluga sturgeon is Huso huso. It belongs to the family of Acipenseridae, order of Acipenseriformes, kingdom of Animalia, phylum of Chordata, class of Actinopterygii and the genus of Huso.
The people tend to prefer the pure and classic taste of beluga sturgeon caviar, which is why caviar from these sturgeons is expensive. In 2005, the United States of America made beluga caviar and beluga sturgeon illegal to import into the country due to its Critically Endangered status.
Parts of the beluga sturgeon can be served as food, and the texture is often compared to that of a lobster or crab. The life span of a male sturgeon is 55 years and 80 to 150 years for females.
Beluga sturgeons impose no threat to humans, in fact, they actively avoid contact with humans.
Beluga sturgeons eat flounder, anchovies, gobies, herring, roach, and other fishes as food. Sturgeons are not blind, but being the largest freshwater fish species in the world, they can reach up to 24 ft (7 m) and weigh up to 3,500 lb (1,500 kg).
Adult beluga sturgeon or giant beluga sturgeons (Huso) have some natural predators, like sharks. Female individuals reach maturity between the ages of 19 to 22 years, they are also able to carry between 230,000 and 1 million eggs.
Here on our page, we have lots of beluga sturgeon facts that everyone will enjoy. Let's have a look at these interesting facts and if you like these, then do read our pumpkinseed sunfish and suckerfish facts.
Beluga Sturgeon Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a beluga sturgeon?
Beluga sturgeons (Huso) are a migrating fish species. They spend their lives in saltwater and only return to rivers to spawn.
What class of animal does a beluga sturgeon belong to?
Beluga sturgeons (Huso) belong to the oldest group of fishes estimated to be over 200 million years old.
How many beluga sturgeons are there in the world?
The population size of beluga sturgeons is unknown.
Where does a beluga sturgeon live?
The beluga sturgeon species of sturgeons mostly live in the Caspian sea, Black, Azov, and Adriatic seas. Most species live in the ocean and ascend rivers possibly once in several years.
What is a beluga sturgeon's habitat?
The habitat of the beluga sturgeon (Huso) fish is in both salt water and fresh water rivers. They can easily tolerate different salinities and thrive wherever they are.
Who do beluga sturgeons live with?
This great sturgeon species mostly lives in the Caspian sea which is split among the lands of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran in Central Asia. The sea is fed by more than 100 rivers including the Volga, which runs all the way from north Moscow.
The beluga sturgeon is also indigenous to both the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov set between Turkey and Russia.
How long does a beluga sturgeon live?
The lifespan of a beluga sturgeon (Huso) is usually at least 50 years in the wild. But most of the time they are caught by fishermen before they can die of natural causes. Beluga sturgeons reproduce year after year, and large individuals may live for over 100 years.
How do they reproduce?
Just like many other species of fish, beluga sturgeons reproduce externally. The female beluga sturgeons reach reproductive maturity between 19 and 22 years whereas the male reaches his maturity at 14 and 16.
Females are able to carry 230,000 to 1 million eggs, depending on their size. Females can reabsorb the eggs if the conditions are not suitable for spawning and can try again later.
They lay their eggs on the gravel or rocky bottoms of the river bed. The hatchlings swim towards the sea and remain in warm shallow water. When juveniles reach the sea they are only a few inches in size.
The sturgeon has a long development time and lifespan, most of which is spent alone. They achieve sexual maturity between six and 25 years of age.
What is their conservation status?
The fish is highly vulnerable to extinction in its entire range. Most of the sturgeon population, who are still in their natural habitat, is supported by hatcheries to help aid the population regain its numbers and hopefully avoid extinction. IUCN Red List Of Endangered Species classifies beluga sturgeons as a Critically Endangered species.
Beluga Sturgeon Fun Facts
What do beluga sturgeons look like?
Beluga sturgeons (Huso) are a fish belonging to the oldest group of fishes estimated to be 200 million years old. The fish is considered to be the largest fresh water fish species in the world.
It can reach lengths of up to 24 ft (7 m) and weigh up to 3,500 lb (1,500 kg). Like many other sturgeon species, the beluga is a fish with a huge, long body and a rounded hump.
They have strong bony plates known as scutes instead of scales. They lack a vertebral centrum and possess a cartilaginous endoskeleton. They have a big asymmetric tail that is almost shark-like in appearance.
The beluga sturgeon's back is grey, greenish, or black which transitions to white on the underside. The belly is white, and the sharp snout is yellowish.
*Please note that this is an image of a fish, not a beluga sturgeon. If you have an image of a beluga sturgeon please let us know at hello@kidadl.com
How cute are they?
Beluga sturgeons look fairly cute, but they can also look a little intimidating. Some people may find them cute while others may steer clear.
How do they communicate?
Not much is known about the way beluga sturgeons communicate, but research into these fishes is always ongoing.
How big is a beluga sturgeon?
Beluga sturgeons are one of the biggest fish in the world. They can reach lengths of up to 24 ft (7 m) and weigh up to 3,500 lb (1,500 kg).
They are almost as big as a modern pickup truck. Few other species can compare to their formidable size. Sturgeons are valued for their flesh, eggs , and swim bladder.
How fast can a beluga sturgeon swim?
Although it is a fish and has been said to swim quite fast, there is no accurate speed available.
How much does a beluga sturgeon weigh?
Beluga sturgeons weigh up to 3,500 lb (1,500 kg) and can stretch up to 24 ft (7 m). Beluga sturgeons are considered to be the third-largest living bony fish in the world.
What are the male and female names of the species?
No different names are given to the females and males. Both genders of the species are known by the same name.
What would you call a baby beluga sturgeon?
There are no different names for a baby beluga sturgeon, although the scientific name for this fish is Huso huso.
What do they eat?
Beluga sturgeons are predatory fish that consume other fishes including flounder, anchovies, gobies, herring and roach.
Do humans eat them?
The beluga sturgeons (Huso huso) are considered to be highly desirable catches. They are very easy to catch up rivers because of their predictable nature of spawning.
Beluga caviar is considered to be a rare food delicacy around the world but since conservation laws have set in, beluga sturgeon products have been banned and illegal in the US since 2005. However, beluga hybrid caviar has been available for sale and this is the caviar used in its stead.
Would they make a good pet?
No, they are wild creatures. They cannot be confined to domestic living. Neither the smaller nor the largest beluga sturgeon can be kept as pets due to the sheer nature and size of these fish.
Did you know...
Beluga sturgeons are a fish belonging to the oldest group of fishes estimated to be 200 million years old. They are considered to be the largest freshwater fish species of the world, and they are also one of the largest bony fish in the world.
How big is a beluga sturgeon?
Beluga sturgeons are one of the biggest fresh water fish in the world. Beluga sturgeon sizes can reach up to 24 ft (7 m) and they can also weigh up to 3,500 lb (1,500 kg). It is almost as big as a modern pickup truck.
What is being done to stop the beluga sturgeon's extinction?
Beluga sturgeons (Huso) are considered to be a highly desirable catch. Humans find an essential part (caviar beluga) of its reproductive process delicious which increases the threat of their extinction.
Beluga sturgeon (Huso) is listed as a Critically Endangered species. Huge efforts are being made by conservation groups with the cooperation and help of individuals around Europe to save beluga sturgeon (Huso) from extinction.
in 2005 the United States made beluga caviar and beluga sturgeon illegal. But along with that, the fishing of the species needs to be stopped along with beluga sturgeon farming.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish including milkfish, or codfish.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our Beluga sturgeon coloring pages.
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