Description

Bases of outer barbels in line with or ahead of inner barbels (Ref. 86798).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Chondrostei

Order: Acipenseriformes

Family: Acipenseridae

Genus: Scaphirhynchus

Species: Scaphirhynchus platorynchus (Rafinesque, 1820)

Climate Zone

Biology

Occurs in the bottom of main channels and embayments of large turbid rivers; frequently in flowing water over sand and mixed with gravel and mud. Feeds primarily on larvae of aquatic insects (especially burrowing mayflies, caddis larvae and midge larvae (Ref. 10294)), worms, and crustaceans (Ref. 50937). Spawning occurs from April to June in large rivers in areas of swift current and coarse substrates (Ref. 10294).

Habitat

demersal

Conservation Status

Vulnerable

Threat to Humans

Harmless