Appearance of the White Sturgeon
The White Sturgeon's appearance is one that has been perfected for nearly 200 million years of evolution. Through time the Sturgeon has sustained many of its primary features, most notably its incredible size. White Sturgeon have been estimated to be able to reach nearly 20 feet in length and weigh approximately 1800 pounds, making it obviously the largest freshwater fish in North America. While a sturgeon this big has never been caught several around the 12 foot and 1000 pound range have been caught. While the sturgeons size is astounding, its perfected body shape is a true evolutionary marvel. As a bottom feeder the sturgeon has developed an extremely flat and soft underbelly to allow itself to glide smoothly along the bottom of any lake or river where it finds suitable habitation. To accompany the softer underbelly is an extremely tough head and back, which is covered in dense bone like plates of cartilage. This cartilage serves as protection from threats above as the Sturgeon hunts and lurks in the bottom of the water. In order to feed on its prey which is predominantly below them the sturgeon has a mouth which is located under the head. The mouth is an almost telescopic tube which vacuums up its prey by extending its jaws and pulling the surrounding water into its mouth and in return, the prey. Due to the sturgeons environment being very dark and very cold, they do not have an extremely well developed sense of sight but operate off of the feel of their whiskers and their sense of smell. The whiskers which are located on the sturgeons snout, feel around on the bottom of the river or lake and give the sturgeon a sense of the topography of the habitat as well as a sense of the other creatures in the area as the whiskers also detect the movement of other creatures. The nose of the sturgeon is used to determine what is in its presence and if any easy opportunity meals such as a dead fish are near. This incredible sense of smell can detect a dead fish hundreds of yards away under the water. The White Sturgeon does not use hearing as a sense, in its environment its other dominant senses suffice.