Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), recorded as Endangered
Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Sterlet

Acipenser ruthenus

Sterlet is a ray-finned fish in the family Acipenseridae (order Acipenseriformes) — Acipenser ruthenus, recorded as Endangered.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Acipenser ruthenus
CITES
Appendix II
Taxonomy
Acipenseriformes · Acipenseridae · Acipenser

Appearance

It is quite variable in coloration, but usually has a yellowish ventral side. It can be distinguished from other European species of sturgeons by the presence of a great number of whitish lateral scutes, fringed barbels, and an elongated and narrow snout, highly variable in length.

The Sterlet may reach 16 kg in weight and 100 to 125 cm in length, rarely exceeding a length of 90 cm.

Range and habitat

The Sterlet (Huso ruthenus) is a relatively small species of sturgeon from Eurasia native to large rivers that flow into the Black Sea, Azov Sea, and Caspian Sea, as well as rivers in Siberia as far east as Yenisei. Due to overfishing (for its flesh, caviar, and isinglass), pollution, and dams, the Sterlet has declined throughout its native range and is considered endangered by the IUCN. Restocking projects are ongoing, and it has been introduced to some regions outside its native range, but the latter have generally not become self-sustaining.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Diet

The Sterlet's main source of food is benthic organisms. They commonly feed on crustaceans, worms, and insect larvae. Spawning occurs from the middle of April to the beginning of June.

Populations migrating between fresh and salt water (anadromous) have been extirpated.

In crisis

CITES lists this taxon on Appendix II. Confirm the current appendix on the CITES checklist.

Sterlet is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Sterlet, Wikidata item Q211316. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Same genus

Photograph of Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Adriatic sturgeon

Acipenser naccarii
Photograph of Amur sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Amur sturgeon

Acipenser schrenckii
Photograph of Bastard sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Bastard sturgeon

Acipenser nudiventris
Photograph of Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Chinese sturgeon

Acipenser sinensis

Quick answers

What is Sterlet?
Sterlet is a ray-finned fish in the family Acipenseridae (order Acipenseriformes) — Acipenser ruthenus.
What is the conservation status of Sterlet?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Acipenser ruthenus. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Sterlet live?
The Sterlet (Huso ruthenus) is a relatively small species of sturgeon from Eurasia native to large rivers that flow into the Black Sea, Azov Sea, and Caspian Sea, as well as rivers in Siberia as far east as Yenisei.
Why is Sterlet in crisis?
Due to overfishing (for its flesh, caviar, and isinglass), pollution, and dams, the Sterlet has declined throughout its native range and is considered endangered by the IUCN.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Acipenser ruthenus?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Sterlet a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.