stellate sturgeon

fish

Also known as: Acipenser stellatus, star sturgeon

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The stellate sturgeon (A. stellatus) is a species of fish belonging to the family Acipenseridae, native to temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere. These fish are characterized by bony plates, known as scutes, covering their head and body, and a toothless mouth on the underside of their snout, equipped with barbels to help them find food on the bottom.1

Stellate sturgeons are found in the rivers of the Black and Caspian seas, as well as the Sea of Azov. They typically inhabit the ocean and migrate into rivers to spawn. This species is highly valued for its flesh and caviar, though many sturgeon species, including the stellate sturgeon, are critically endangered due to overfishing and habitat changes.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

chondrostean
Distribution
The starry sturgeon (A. stellatus) occurs in rivers leading to the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Caspian Sea. The lake sturgeon of North America (A. fulvescens) occurs in the Mississippi River valley, in Lake Huron, and northward into Canada. The white, Oregon, or…
Read More
The starry sturgeon (A. stellatus) occurs in rivers leading to the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Caspian Sea. The lake sturgeon of North America (A. fulvescens) occurs in the Mississippi River valley, in Lake Huron, and northward into Canada. The white, Oregon, or…
Read More

sturgeon
Distribution
The stellate, or star, sturgeon, A. stellatus, occurs in the rivers of the Black and Caspian seas and of the Sea of Azov. It has a long pointed snout like the sterlet, and its flesh, caviar, and isinglass are highly valued.
Read More
The stellate, or star, sturgeon, A. stellatus, occurs in the rivers of the Black and Caspian seas and of the Sea of Azov. It has a long pointed snout like the sterlet, and its flesh, caviar, and isinglass are highly valued.
Read More