What aids the White Sturgeon's bottom-feeding by locating food on dark bottoms?

Answer

Four sensory barbels located just in front of the mouth

The physical adaptations of the White Sturgeon reflect millions of years spent occupying the benthic niche. The fish is equipped with four sensory barbels situated immediately in front of its mouth. These barbels are crucial for locating food, such as benthic invertebrates, when the fish is feeding on the dark, muddy bottoms typical of the rivers and estuaries where they reside. This sensory capability works in conjunction with their specialized mouth structure, which is ventral and protrusible, allowing them to suck up food items from the substrate effectively, even in low visibility conditions.

What aids the White Sturgeon's bottom-feeding by locating food on dark bottoms?
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