White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)
By Graham Quick & Terry White
The White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is found on the west (Pacific) coast of North America from Alaska, Canada down to California.
While the White Sturgeon produces good caviar it is a bit oily. The White Sturgeon is a carrier of White Sturgeon iridovirus (WSIV) that also affects the Diamond Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) and its hybrids.
Videos of White Sturgeons (Acipenser transmontanus) at Vancouver Island University
Although only currently accepted as one species (Acipenser transmontanus), a recent study based on morphological, osteological and biological evidences, suggests that the White Sturgeons of the Pacific coast of North America are composed of two distinct species, belonging to two genera.
The study states that:
- The White Sturgeon populations in the Frazer River, the Columbia River and the Sacramento River with the characteristic short snout belong to the Genus Huso and therefore require a taxonomic revision of the scientific name to Huso transmontanus and the common name Steluga Sturgeon.
- The populations in the Nechako River, the Kootenai River and the Snake River with the characteristic long snout belong to the Genus Acipenser and for these a new species is proposed with the scientific name Acipenser columbiaensis and the common name Columbia Sturgeon.
Recommended Pond Size
The White Sturgeon is one of the largest growing sturgeon species. It has been known to grow to 6.1m (20ft) long and weigh up to 816kg in the wild and grows quickly in ponds to a very large size. To keep this species in a pond you will need a pond of at least 15,000 gallons (68,000 litres) and plenty of money to meet the huge food bill. As with the Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso), a White Sturgeon will need a lot of feeding if you want it to leave your other fish alone.
Sturgeon Fishing
The White Sturgeon population is well managed and it is an important fishing species, bringing in fishermen from all over the world. While often seen as unfair for the fish, fishing has brought about the cleaning up of rivers and re-introduction of fish populations where pollution has previously wiped them out. Sturgeon where once native to the UK but the industrial revolution soon put a stop to them!
The White Sturgeons pictured below were returned alive!
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Taxonomy
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Links: Encyclopedia of Life | FAO Species Fact Sheet | Fishbase | ITIS | Pond Life | World Register of Marine Species
Common Names: Columbia Sturgeon, Oregon Sturgeon, Pacific Sturgeon, Sacramento Sturgeon, White Sturgeon