# Shovelnose Sturgeon (*scaphirhynchus platorynchus*) The Shovelnose Sturgeon has a unique flat snout that helps it dig in the riverbed for food! These fish can grow quite large and are known for their ancient lineage, dating back millions of years. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Shovelnose Sturgeons are found in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, preferring sandy or muddy river bottoms. - **Also known as:** Flathead Sturgeon, Mississippi Sturgeon ![Shovelnose Sturgeon](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Shovelnose_Sturgeon_01-19-08_1241.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kbh3rd, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shovelnose_Sturgeon_01-19-08_1241.jpg) ## Appearance The Shovelnose Sturgeon has a distinctive flattened, shovel-like snout and a slender body covered in bony plates called scutes, not scales. Its coloration ranges from mottled brown to gray, helping it blend into riverbeds. Four sensory barbels hang in front of its mouth, aiding in bottom foraging. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Acipenseriformes - **Family:** Acipenseridae - **Genus:** Scaphirhynchus ## Interesting facts - Instead of scales, this fish has five rows of tough, bony plates covering its body! - Shovelnose Sturgeon are the smallest of all North American sturgeon species! - Their eggs are so valuable they're considered a type of black caviar! - They are often called 'living fossils' because their ancestors swam with dinosaurs! ## Special abilities - **Armored Body:** Shovelnose Sturgeon has rows of bony plates called scutes that help them protect against predators and rough river environments. - **River Navigator:** Shovelnose Sturgeon can live in strong river currents because of its streamlined body and powerful tail that helps them swim against the flow. - **Flexible Skeleton:** Shovelnose Sturgeon has a skeleton made mostly of cartilage, allowing them flexibility to maneuver around river obstacles. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-80 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-2.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-25 years - **Swim Speed:** 20 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 15 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding These bottom-dwelling fish use their specialized mouths to vacuum up aquatic insects and crustaceans from riverbeds. - **Primary Foods:** Mayfly larvae, Caddisfly larvae, Midge larvae, Crayfish, Small fish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Giant Mayfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-mayfly) (*Hexagenia limbata*) — larvae are a primary food source - **Eats:** Devil Crayfish (*Cambarus diogenes*) — feeds on crustaceans from river bottom - **Eaten by:** [Channel Catfish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/channel-catfish) (*Ictalurus punctatus*) — eggs and young fish are often preyed upon - **Eaten by:** [North American River Otter](https://www.snappit.app/explore/north-american-river-otter) (*Lutra canadensis*) — preys on juvenile sturgeon in rivers ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Shovelnose Sturgeon? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Shovelnose Sturgeon? 50-80 cm ### How much does Shovelnose Sturgeon weigh? 0.5-2.5 kg ### How long does Shovelnose Sturgeon live? 10-25 years ### What does Shovelnose Sturgeon eat? These bottom-dwelling fish use their specialized mouths to vacuum up aquatic insects and crustaceans from riverbeds. ### How fast can Shovelnose Sturgeon swim? 20 km/h ### Where is Shovelnose Sturgeon usually found? Shovelnose Sturgeons are found in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, preferring sandy or muddy river bottoms. ### How does Shovelnose Sturgeon hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Dubuque Millworking Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dubuque-millworking-historic-district) — Iowa, US · Historic District - [Lock and Dam No. 11](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lock-and-dam-no-11) — Iowa, US · Historic Site ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Shovelnose Sturgeon: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shovelnose-sturgeon)