White Sturgeon Skeletal and Muscular Systems
The White Sturgeon, while extremely large and tough does not actually have many bones. The skeletal structure of the Sturgeon is made up almost completely of cartilage and cartilage plates called scutes. The cartilage bones take the place of regular bones throughout the body; making up the spinal column, ribs, and even the structures within the fins and tail. These cartilage bones are extremely durable and flexible making the creature very tough. The scutes which cover the top part of the fish are in an essence large scales that are extremely tough. These plates are an adaptation from prehistoric times when toothy violent creatures lurked everywhere in the sturgeons natural habitat. The only bones in the body of the sturgeon are the ones which make up the skull, the sturgeon have a very large and very boney head.
The scutes, bones and cartilage which provide structure and protection for the sturgeon do so to protect the vital organs of the fish and its muscles. The sturgeon, not having very many bones is also quite absent of muscle surprisingly. The sturgeon, like most fish don't have many muscles because it simply doesn't have a diverse amount of movements necessary for survival. Sturgeon have super strong muscles near the tail which allow for movement through the water and even muscles near the neck and pectoral fins to allow for a little further movement, but simply put the muscles near the tail are the largest and most important to this species' survival.
The scutes, bones and cartilage which provide structure and protection for the sturgeon do so to protect the vital organs of the fish and its muscles. The sturgeon, not having very many bones is also quite absent of muscle surprisingly. The sturgeon, like most fish don't have many muscles because it simply doesn't have a diverse amount of movements necessary for survival. Sturgeon have super strong muscles near the tail which allow for movement through the water and even muscles near the neck and pectoral fins to allow for a little further movement, but simply put the muscles near the tail are the largest and most important to this species' survival.