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How do sturgeons use their barbels while feeding?
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Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) swimming along the seafloor of the Black Sea.
Sturgeons are bottom-feeding fish that utilize their four fleshy, whiskerlike barbels to locate food while foraging. As they move along the bottom, they drag these tactile projections over the substrate to search for small invertebrates and other fish.12
These barbels are highly sensitive to touch and are equipped with numerous taste buds, allowing the fish to detect and select potential food items before ingestion. By combining the senses of touch and taste, sturgeons can effectively identify and evaluate prey within their environment.13