Sturgeon
Sturgeons are one of the oldest families of bony fish in existence and originated from rivers, lakes and coastlines.
They were once considered the largest and longest living freshwater fish and they can live well over one hundred years, but nowadays, most sturgeon species are considered vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. All this to satisfy the luxurious appetites of our society! You see, the extremely wanted caviar comes from the extraction of sturgeons’ roe!
Things to Do:
- Discover sturgeons in the estuary of the Douro river and research what has been happening to them with water pollution.
- Observe their distinct and elongated body, with its flattened and wedge-shaped nose and its elongated caudal ends.
- Notice how he sweeps the bottom, strategically using his whiskers.
- Find out how vulnerable they are to overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction.