Atlantic sturgeon
Acipenser oxyrinchus
Where at Shedd?
At Home on the Great Lakes
| Diet | Fish, insects, shrimps, prawns, mollusks, and other crustaceans |
|---|---|
| Size | Average length: 8 feet (250 cm); maximum length: 14 feet (430 cm) |
| Type | Fishes |
| Range | Northwest Central Atlantic |
| Habitat | Shallow coastal waters and continental shelves of the western Atlantic Ocean from Canada to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico |
Did you know?
- Along the East Coast this species is locally endangered or threatened. It is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). It occurred in the United Kingdom, Europe and Russia but is now extirpated.
- Even though this sturgeon has “Atlantic” in its name, it’s still a Great Lakes species. At spawning time, this fish enters the St. Lawrence River - the basin’s link to the sea.