Description

Absence of scalelike scutes on belly; bases of outer barbels usually behind bases of inner barbels (Ref. 86798).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Chondrostei

Order: Acipenseriformes

Family: Acipenseridae

Genus: Scaphirhynchus

Species: Scaphirhynchus albus (Forbes & Richardson, 1905)

Climate Zone

Biology

Adults inhabit large, deep, turbid river channels, usually in strong current over firm sand or gravel (Ref. 10294, 58490). They feed on aquatic insect immatures, particularly caddisfly larvae, and small fish (Ref. 10294). Threatened due to over harvesting and habitat loss (Ref. 58490). No length type given but assumed to be in TL.

Habitat

demersal

Conservation Status

Critically Endangered

Threat to Humans

Harmless