Shovelnose Sturgeon: Identification

Shovelnose Sturgeon

• Reddish-brown or buff color
• Found throughout Missouri and Mississippi rivers
• Rarely exceeds 30 inches in length or 5 pounds
• Bases of barbels form a straight line
• Thin scale-like plates on belly
• Long slender filament on tip of tail, if not broken off

• Length from snout to barbels is the same as barbels to mouth
• Bases of barbels in a straight line; inner two barbels are long and thick
• Belly with scale-like plates

Pallid Sturgeon (Endangered)

If caught, return unharmed to water immediately.

• Grayish-white color
• Found in the Missouri River and in the Mississippi downstream from the mouth of the Illinois River
• May exceed 30 inches in length and reach 10 pounds or more
• Bases of barbels form a crescent
• Skin-like scaleless belly

• Bases of barbels form a crescent; inner two barbels are short and thin
• The length from the tip of the snout to the barbels is greater than from the barbels to the mouth
• Belly without scale-like plates

Lake Sturgeon (Endangered)

If caught, return unharmed to water immediately.

• Sides and back range from dark slate to light brown or yellowish-olive; white belly
• Found throughout Missouri and Mississippi rivers
• May reach 8 feet in length and more than 300 pounds
• Cone-shaped snout
• Barbels not fringed
• Only 2 lobes on lower lip
• Barbels near mouth are smooth, not fringed
• Short, round snout
• Lips with two lobes