PALLID STURGEON

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Pallid Sturgeon
Scaphirhynchus albus

Federal Status:
Endangered

State Status:
Endangered

• Range:
  Dark Blue = Counties with designated critical habitat
  Light Blue = Historical records
• Comments: This is a fish from an ancient lineage found in the Missouri River along the Kansas-Missouri border. The pallid sturgeon closely resembles the shovelnose sturgeon. In fact, it is so genetically similar that the two will cross to form hybrids. There are more fish in the diet of the pallid sturgeon and it probably utilizes a different habitat type than the shovelnose sturgeon. The pallid sturgeon is a long-lived fish and is known to reach 41 years of age. The female will not spawn until she is 15-20 years old and then only sporadically. The future of the pallid sturgeon is questionable due to hydrology and habitat changes that have occurred as rivers became regulated and engineered.

Other Fish on the Kansas T&E List