Chinese sturgeon

fish

Also known as: Acipenser sinensis

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Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The Chinese sturgeon (A. sinensis) is a species of fish found in the East China Sea and South China Sea, returning to adjacent rivers to reproduce, primarily the Yangtze River. This fish can grow over 4 meters (13 feet) long.1

Sturgeons, belonging to the family Acipenseridae, are ancient fish found in temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere. They are characterized by bony plates (scutes) and a toothless, underslung mouth with barbels used to find food on the bottom. Many sturgeon species are critically endangered due to overfishing and habitat degradation. The Chinese sturgeon, in particular, has seen a significant population decline, raising concerns about its potential extinction.1

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sturgeon
Conservation status
The Chinese sturgeon is thought to be the species most at risk, because its population declined nearly 98 percent between 1973 and 2010. The species decline has been associated with water pollution in the Yangtze and dam construction that has blocked access to or changed the…
Read More
The Chinese sturgeon is thought to be the species most at risk, because its population declined nearly 98 percent between 1973 and 2010. The species decline has been associated with water pollution in the Yangtze and dam construction that has blocked access to or changed the…
Read More

sturgeon
Distribution
The Chinese sturgeon (A. sinensis), which can grow to more than 4 metres (13 feet) in length, inhabits the East China Sea and South China Sea but returns to adjacent rivers to reproduce. The Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) is its main spawning environment.
Read More
The Chinese sturgeon (A. sinensis), which can grow to more than 4 metres (13 feet) in length, inhabits the East China Sea and South China Sea but returns to adjacent rivers to reproduce. The Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) is its main spawning environment.
Read More