November 30, 2021
Characteristics:
- Lake Sturgeon can weigh more than 300 pounds and grow to nine feet in length! Similar to their prehistoric ancestors, these sturgeons have a distinct shark-like tail and armoured plates called “scutes” in rows for protection. The skin is covered with tiny tooth-like projections that give it the feel of fine sandpaper.
- Lake sturgeon are very slow-moving fish that will migrate during early summer up rivers.
- Female sturgeons reproduce between the ages of 20 and 26 years old and only spawn every four years on average. Males usually mature between 8 and 12 years old.
- Females can lay anywhere from two to three million eggs per season!
- Female Sturgeons can live up to three times longer than their male counterparts! Male sturgeon are typically live between 50 and 60 years, while females can live up to 150 years.
Habitat:
Large freshwater bodies of water like lakes or rivers. Lake Sturgeon have been spotted swimming off the shores of EBC's Green Point Nature Reserve on Manitoulin Island.
Diet:
Lake sturgeon are benthic feeders, meaning that they feed along lake bottoms. Their typical diet is small invertebrates, such as crayfish, snails, clams, and leeches.
Threats:
- Overharvesting
- Pollution
- Barriers, such as dams in tributaries that prevent spawning.
