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Acipenser medirostris  Ayres, 1854

Green sturgeon
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Image of Acipenser medirostris (Green sturgeon)
Acipenser medirostris
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United States (contiguous states) country information

Common names: Green sturgeon, Green sturgeon
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: of no interest | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: gamefish: yes;
Comments: Not common in Puget Sound, Washington in 1895 (Ref. 28609). Rarely found in freshwater. Sport fishery for fish exceeding 100 cm in Delta Area of San Francisco Bay (Ref. 4563). Also Ref. 4925, 6885, 28553. Status of threat: vulnerable. Criteria: 1,2 (http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/afs/) (Ref. 81264).
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html
National Fisheries Authority: https://www.nmfs.gov
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons and paddlefishes) > Acipenseridae (Sturgeons) > Acipenserinae
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Main reference

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 270 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 96339); common length : 130 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. published weight: 159.0 kg (Ref. 2850); max. reported age: 60 years (Ref. 72476)

Length at first maturity
Lm 100.0, range 100 - ? cm

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 80 m (Ref. 50610)

Climate / Range

Temperate; 10°C - 20°C (Ref. 2059), preferred 6°C (Ref. 107945); 65°N - 32°N, 166°W - 114°W (Ref. 54261)

Distribution

North America: Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska to Ensenada, Mexico. Considered vulnerable in Canada. The Asian population is now considered to be a separate species Acipenser mikadoi (Ref. 6866). International trade restricted (CITES II, since 1.4.98; CMS Appendix II).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 33-35; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 22 - 28. Characterized by a single row of 1 to 4 bony plates along the midventral line between the anus and the anal fin, and about 33 to 35 rays in the dorsal fin. Dorsal arises at posterior third of the total length; anal fin arises under posterior part of dorsal; pectorals originate low on the body just behind gill opening and are large and rounded; pelvic fins arise near the anus. Generally olive to dark green, lower parts more or less whitish green; a longitudinal olive-green stripe on side between lateral and ventrolateral plates, another on midventral surface; fins grayish to pale green (Ref. 27547). Barbels usually situated closer to mouth than to snout tip; coloration of scutes along side paler than skin (Ref. 86798).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Found in estuaries, lower reaches of large rivers, and in salt or brackish water off river mouths (Ref. 5723). Probably spawns in fresh water (Ref. 27547). May cover considerable distances in the ocean (Ref. 27547). Edible but with a disagreeable taste and unpleasant odor (Ref. 1998).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Threat to humans

  Harmless



Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

More information

Common names
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Predators
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Reproduction
Maturity
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Fecundity
Eggs
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Age/Size
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Morphometrics
Morphology
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Aquaculture
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Otoliths
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Tools

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Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
3.5   ±0.52 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.05-0.09)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
Very high vulnerability (80 of 100)
Price category (Ref. 80766)
Unknown