sturgeons

n. [ F. esturgeon, LL. sturio, sturgio, OHG. sturjo, G. stör; akin to AS. styria, styriga. ] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large cartilaginous ganoid fishes belonging to Acipenser and allied genera of the family Acipenseridae. They run up rivers to spawn, and are common on the coasts and in the large rivers and lakes of North America, Europe, and Asia. Caviar is prepared from the roe, and isinglass from the air bladder. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common North American species are Acipenser sturio of the Atlantic coast region, Acipenser transmontanus of the Pacific coast, and Acipenser rubicundus of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. In Europe, the common species is Acipenser sturio, and other well-known species are the sterlet and the huso. The sturgeons are included in the order Chondrostei. Their body is partially covered by five rows of large, carinated, bony plates, of which one row runs along the back. The tail is heterocercal. The toothless and protrusile mouth is beneath the head, and has four barbels in front. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shovel-nosed sturgeon. (Zool.) See Shovelnose (d). [ 1913 Webster ]