According to the United States Geological Survey, the beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) is the largest and heaviest freshwater fish globally. These giant fish grow
up to 4.5 meters long and can weigh more than 1,100 kilograms.
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| Which is the largest freshwater fish. Photo: Fotolia |
This animal is also quite appreciated for
its roe since it is usually sold as a gourmet caviar.
The beluga sturgeon can weigh more than 1100 kilograms
Unfortunately, this fish population has been
drastically reduced due to the demand for caviar. So it is currently
in danger of extinction. Likewise, this
species stands out for having an elongated body, a short snout, a wide
mouth, and a leaden gray color on the back.
They also have fleshy barbels in front of their mouths to locate
their prey in river beds.
The beluga sturgeon mainly inhabits the Black Sea basins and the Caspian
Sea, such as the Volga River.
There is no doubt that it is a curious fish in all aspects
It is estimated that it has been
living on this planet for more than 250 million, so it has
stoically resisted the evolutionary processes.
The different species of sturgeon can be found in the great river
systems located in the northern hemisphere. They also have a certain
predilection for the Black and Caspian Seas, however in these two areas
they are much less frequent. Some of them are also found in Spain,
especially in the large rivers such as the
Guadalquivir.
The largest specimen ever seen was about 6 meters long, weighing over 800 kilograms
White sturgeon is North America's largest freshwater fish. Reportedly,
white sturgeon reaches lengths of 15-20 feet and can weigh up to one ton.
North America's second-largest freshwater fish is
alligator gar.
Growth and reproduction
Beluga is a long-lived fish that can reach the age of 100 years. Unlike
Pacific salmon, which die after spawning, beluga, like other sturgeons,
can spawn many times. After spawning the fish rolls back into the sea.