Sterlet

Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) is a relatively small species of Sturgeon that is found in large rivers in Eurasia and Siberia, particularly the ones flowing into the Black, Azov, Caspian and Baltic seas. This valuable commercial fish prefers to inhabit large clean rivers with strong currents and cool water, where it likes to hide in deeper areas with sandy bottom. Sterlet has a long narrow nose with barbels and an elongated triangular-shaped body, that is yellowish-gray in color and covered with bony plates instead of scales. Distinguished from other Sturgeon by its small size, Sterlet usually weighs in the range from 1 to 6 kg (2 to 13 lb), with unique specimen sometimes weighing up to about 9 kg (19 lb). Sterlet feeds on small bottom invertebrates, molluscs, insect larvae and crustaceans.