Sturgeons are famed for their long lifespan, with some individuals living for over a century. They are also well known for their eggs, which are sold as the delicacy called caviar.
Sturgeons are an ancient group of fish, extending back in the fossil record for over 100 million years, to the Cretaceous Period. The tribe today combines the beluga, which is the most substantial freshwater fish in the world. Although it grows up to 28 feet in length, it is a fish that is not often seen. Instead, the beluga hides away, remaining close to the river bottom, where it digs in the sediment in search of food such as worms. The white sturgeon, that can grow to about 20 feet, is the largest of North America’s freshwater fish.
