(Acipenser brevirostrum) a living fossil predating the dinosaur,
can be found in several Maine rivers. They are a primitive fish
with rows of bony, armor-like plates on their sides and a skeleton
of cartilage rather than bones. Sturgeon are bottom feeders--they
suck plants and animals disturbed by their movement into their
tube-like mouth. Smaller than their cousins the Atlantic sturgeon,
which can grow to 7ft long, the shortnose sturgeon rarely reaches
more than 3ft.
the
shortnose sturgeon needs access to both freshwater rivers and
rich estuaries. The species rarely migrates far into the ocean
away from its native river. When ready to spawn, the sturgeon
migrate upstream and deposit their eggs over gravelly or rocky
river bottoms in moderately deep water with strong current.
is
an endangered species, the Kennebec River has some of the best
habitat for sturgeon in Maine. When Edwards Dam was removed last
summer, the sturgeon regained access to their full historic range
on the river. In time, these spawning grounds may help the fish
to recover. |
