How big can a kaluga sturgeon get?

It can reach up to about 5.6 m in length and over 1,000 kg in weight, making it one of the largest freshwater fish on Earth.

What does the kaluga sturgeon eat?

Juveniles feed on bottom-dwelling shellfish and crustaceans, while adults become apex predators that hunt other fish such as pike, carp, herring, and salmon.

Why is the kaluga sturgeon critically endangered?

Decades of overfishing for its meat and caviar have caused its population to fall by more than 90% over the past 90 years.

Sturgeonチョウザメ

Huso dauricusCR— Critically Endangered

The kaluga (Huso dauricus) is a giant sturgeon native to the Amur River basin on the Russia-China border, with a semi-anadromous life history that occasionally brings individuals into coastal waters near Hokkaido, Japan. Among the largest freshwater fish in the world, it can exceed 5.6 m in length and 1,000 kg in weight, and adults become apex piscivorous predators of other fish. Severe overfishing has driven a population decline of more than 90% over the past 90 years, and it is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

Sturgeon (reference photo) — Photo: Vyacheslav Bukharov / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Acipenseriformes / Acipenseridae Source
Distribution: Native to the Amur River basin on the Russia-China border, with some individuals ranging into coastal waters near Hokkaido, Japan; the species is semi-anadromous. Source

Did You Know?

Kaluga in the Amur River have been recorded at up to 5.6 m long and over 1,000 kg, making it one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Source
As adults they become apex piscivorous predators of other fish, earning the nickname "freshwater killer whale." Source
Due to overfishing and habitat degradation, the population has declined by more than 90% over the past 90 years, and the species is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Source

Where to See This Species

6 facilities · 0 individuals

さいたま水族館 (Saitama Suizokukan)Saitama東武伊勢崎線羽生駅または加須駅からタクシーで約15分（約7km）。

さいたま水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

京急油壺マリンパーク (Keikyuuaburatsubomarin Park)KanagawaOpened in 1968

京急油壺マリンパークのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

江の島水族館 (Enoshima Suizokukan)KanagawaOpened in 1954

江の島水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

山梨県立富士湧水の里水族館 (Yamanashi Kenritsu Fujiyuusuinosato Suizokukan)Yamanashi東富士五湖道路山中湖ICから5分、中央高速河口湖ICから20分。

山梨県立富士湧水の里水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

仙台うみの杜水族館 (Sendaiuminomori Suizokukan)MiyagiOpened in 2015

仙台うみの杜水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Toba AquariumMieOpened in 1955

鳥羽水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNレッドリストではCR。過剰漁獲、密漁、河川開発、汚染が保全上の課題となる。

Habitat

アムール川流域とその河口・沿岸域。

Threats

過剰漁獲、密漁、河川開発、汚染

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

生息地の保全と個体群の継続的な把握
大型淡水魚の展示では、古い系統を残す骨格や回遊生活を見られ、繁殖・保全の重要性を伝える。長寿で大型化する魚の飼育に必要な水槽環境も見どころとなる。

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

How big can a kaluga sturgeon get?: It can reach up to about 5.6 m in length and over 1,000 kg in weight, making it one of the largest freshwater fish on Earth. Source
What does the kaluga sturgeon eat?: Juveniles feed on bottom-dwelling shellfish and crustaceans, while adults become apex predators that hunt other fish such as pike, carp, herring, and salmon. Source
Why is the kaluga sturgeon critically endangered?: Decades of overfishing for its meat and caviar have caused its population to fall by more than 90% over the past 90 years. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org