What covers the body of the white sturgeon instead of overlapping scales?
Answer
Five rows of bony plates known as scutes
The white sturgeon possesses a unique external armor system that differs significantly from most familiar fish species. Instead of the typical overlapping scales found on many common fish, its body is equipped with five distinct rows of hard, bony structures identified as scutes. These scutes serve a crucial protective function, setting the ancient fish apart physically from the vast majority of contemporary North American riverine species. This arrangement highlights their ancient lineage within the ray-finned fish group.
Related Questions
What covers the body of the white sturgeon instead of overlapping scales?What are the four whisker-like organs in front of the white sturgeon's mouth used for?What term describes the white sturgeon's migration from saltwater/estuaries upriver to spawn?How long until a female white sturgeon typically reaches sexual maturity?Which California location marks the southern extent of the white sturgeon's historical range?What ecological niche do white sturgeons occupy near the riverbed substrate?What measurement timescale dictates effective management for white sturgeon recovery?What material largely composes the skeleton of the ancient white sturgeon?What historical activity was the primary driver of white sturgeon population decline?Which institutions are specifically named as housing white sturgeons in captive environments?What is the characteristic coloration of the white sturgeon's back fading to its underside?