Pallid Sturgeon
CR

Pallid Sturgeon

Scaphirhynchus albus

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallid_sturgeon

Overview

The pallid sturgeon is an endangered species of ray-finned fish, endemic to the waters of the Missouri and lower Mississippi River basins of the United States. It may have even reached the St. Croix River before colonization.

The pallid sturgeon faces severe population decline due to extensive river modification throughout the Missouri and Mississippi river systems. Dam construction has fragmented its habitat and altered natural flow regimes essential for spawning, while channelization has eliminated critical shallow-water nursery areas. Water diversions and pollution from agricultural runoff further degrade remaining habitat quality.

Threat summary

Habitat

Inhabits large, turbid rivers with strong currents, particularly the Missouri and Mississippi river systems and their major tributaries. Requires diverse habitat types including deep pools for adults and shallow, sandy areas with moderate current for spawning and juvenile development.

Marine oceanic· majorWetlands (inland)· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Habitat & natural process restorationSpecies managementSpecies recoveryLegislation

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Small Amu-Darya Shovelnose SturgeonCR

Small Amu-Darya Shovelnose Sturgeon

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Threatened in Canada

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
EN

Nymphaea loriana

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Lake Lamprey

Entosphenus macrostoma

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VU

Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Pallid Sturgeon classified as Critically Endangered?
Pallid Sturgeon is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The pallid sturgeon faces severe population decline due to extensive river modification throughout the Missouri and Mississippi river systems. Dam construction has fragmented its habitat and altered natural flow regimes essential for spawning, while channelization has eliminated critical shallow-water nursery areas. Water diversions and pollution from agricultural runoff further degrade remaining habitat quality.
Where does Pallid Sturgeon live?
Pallid Sturgeon occurs in Canada, Mexico, and United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Pallid Sturgeon?
The main threats to Pallid Sturgeon are 11.4, 5.3, 7.2, and 7.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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