ETYM French esturgeon, Late Lat. sturio, sturgio, Old High Germ. sturjo, German stör; akin to AS. styria, styriga.
Large primitive fishes valued for their flesh and roe; widely distributed in north temperate zone.
Any of a family (Acipenseridae) of large, primitive, bony fishes with five rows of bony plates, small sucking mouths, and chin barbels used for exploring the bottom of the water for prey.
The beluga sturgeon Huso huso of the Caspian Sea can reach a length of 8 m/25 ft and weigh 1,500 kg/3,300 lb.
North American species include the Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrhynchus, over 3 m/10 ft long.