How is the White Sturgeon's body armored instead of using typical overlapping scales?
Answer
Five distinct rows of bony plates called scutes
The White Sturgeon possesses a unique external armor system that distinguishes it from modern bony fishes covered in cycloid or ctenoid scales. Its body is protected by five separate, prominent rows of hardened bony plates known as scutes. These scutes run along the dorsal (top), lateral (side), and ventral (bottom) axes of the fish, giving the skin a rugged, sandpaper-like texture. This arrangement is a key morphological feature that reinforces its status as an ancient species, contrasting sharply with the typical scaled integument of many other fish.
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