Atlantic sturgeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atlantic sturgeon |
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|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acipenseriformes |
| Family: | Acipenseridae |
| Genus: | Acipenser |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
A. o. oxyrinchus
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| Trinomial name | |
| Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Mitchill, 1815
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The Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) is a very old type of fish. It belongs to the sturgeon family, called Acipenseridae. These amazing fish have been around for millions of years!
You can find Atlantic sturgeon along the eastern coast of North America. They live from New Brunswick, Canada, all the way down to Florida in the United States.
What Makes Atlantic Sturgeon Special?
Atlantic sturgeon are truly giants of the water. They can grow to be very long, sometimes up to 15 feet! That's longer than a small car. They can also weigh over 800 pounds, which is heavier than a piano.
These fish can live for a very long time. Some Atlantic sturgeon have been known to live for 60 years! Imagine being a fish for that long.
Why Are Atlantic Sturgeon in Danger?
Sadly, the number of Atlantic sturgeon has dropped a lot. This is mainly because of two big problems:
- Overfishing: In the past, too many sturgeon were caught by people.
- Water Pollution: Dirty water from human activities also harms their homes.
Because of these issues, the Atlantic sturgeon is now considered a threatened or endangered animal. In some parts of their natural homes, they have even disappeared completely. People are working to protect these ancient fish so they don't vanish forever.
Images for kids
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An Atlantic sturgeon at the Aquarium du Québec.
