How to differentiate between green and white sturgeon?
In support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Pete Thomas Outdoors, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly California Outdoors Q&A column:
Question: I caught a couple of sturgeon recently that were golden around the edges of the fins. I called them "golden sturgeon" but have never heard of sturgeon being this color. They were 40-45 inches in length. Could they just be young white sturgeon, or are they something else?
Answer: According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Sturgeon Monitoring Program Manager Marty Gingras, California has only green and white sturgeon, and those species have never been hybridized. We've never seen or received reports of a white sturgeon that looked golden. A "golden sturgeon" is most likely a green sturgeon that appears a bit golden. Please remember that green sturgeon may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 5.81.
To differentiate between green and white sturgeon, here are a few quick and easy tips:
• Dorsal scutes bony plates Greens have 1-2 dorsal scutes trailing the dorsal fin, but on white sturgeon they are absent.
• Vent Greens have the vent between the pelvic fins, but on white sturgeon it’s found toward the tail.
• Belly stripe Present on greens but absent on white sturgeon.
• Scutes along the side Greens have 23-30 scutes while whites have 38-48.
The first three characteristics above are most readily apparent and should help correctly identify the species. Sometimes the bluntness of the snout and location of barbels is mentioned, but these are variable and somewhat subjective.
Question: I caught a couple of sturgeon recently that were golden around the edges of the fins. I called them "golden sturgeon" but have never heard of sturgeon being this color. They were 40-45 inches in length. Could they just be young white sturgeon, or are they something else?
Answer: According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Sturgeon Monitoring Program Manager Marty Gingras, California has only green and white sturgeon, and those species have never been hybridized. We've never seen or received reports of a white sturgeon that looked golden. A "golden sturgeon" is most likely a green sturgeon that appears a bit golden. Please remember that green sturgeon may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 5.81.
To differentiate between green and white sturgeon, here are a few quick and easy tips:
• Dorsal scutes bony plates Greens have 1-2 dorsal scutes trailing the dorsal fin, but on white sturgeon they are absent.
• Vent Greens have the vent between the pelvic fins, but on white sturgeon it’s found toward the tail.
• Belly stripe Present on greens but absent on white sturgeon.
• Scutes along the side Greens have 23-30 scutes while whites have 38-48.
The first three characteristics above are most readily apparent and should help correctly identify the species. Sometimes the bluntness of the snout and location of barbels is mentioned, but these are variable and somewhat subjective.
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