View source for Beluga (sturgeon)

{{Other uses|Beluga (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|European sturgeon|the species ''Acipenser sturio''|European sea sturgeon}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Beluga
| status = CR
| status_system = iucn3.1
| status_ref =<ref>{{IUCN2013.2 |assessor=Gesner, J. |assessor2=Chebanov, M. |assessor3=Freyhof, J. |last-assessor-amp=yes|year=2010 |id=10269 |title=Huso huso |downloaded=30 March 2014}}</ref>
| image = Beluga sturgeon.png
| image2 =Huso huso1.jpg
| image_width = 200px
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| classis = [[Actinopterygii]]
| ordo = [[Acipenseriformes]]
| familia = [[Acipenseridae]]
| genus = ''[[Huso]]''
| species = '''''H. huso'''''
| binomial = ''Huso huso''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
}}

The '''beluga''' {{IPAc-en|b|ə|ˈ|l|uː|ɡ|ə}} or '''European sturgeon''' (''Huso huso'') is a [[species]] of [[anadromous]] [[fish]] in the [[sturgeon]] [[family (biology)|family]] ([[Acipenseridae]]) of [[order (biology)|order]]  [[Acipenseriformes]]. It is found primarily in the [[Caspian Sea|Caspian]] and [[Black Sea]] basins, and occasionally in the [[Adriatic Sea]]. Heavily fished for the female's valuable [[roe]]—known as [[beluga caviar]]—the beluga is a huge and late-maturing fish that can live for 118 years.<ref name="Huso huso">[http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=2067&genusname=Huso&speciesname=huso Huso huso.] Fishbase.com. Accessed on 11 January 2008</ref> The species' numbers have been greatly reduced by [[overfishing]] and [[poaching]], prompting many governments to enact restrictions on its trade. 

The common name for the sturgeon, as for the unrelated [[beluga whale]], is derived from the [[Russian language|Russian]] word белый (''belyy''), meaning "white".

==Behavior==
The beluga is a large predator which feeds mostly on fish, also rarely consuming [[waterfowl]] and seal pups.<ref name="Huso huso"/>

Like most sturgeons, the beluga is [[anadromous]], migrating upstream in rivers to [[spawn (biology)|spawn]].

== Size ==
The largest accepted record is of a female taken in 1827 in the [[Volga]] estuary at {{convert|1571|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and {{convert|7.2|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}. Several other records of aged sturgeon exceed {{convert|5|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}.<ref name= Wood>Wood, ''The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats''. Sterling Pub Co Inc. (1983), ISBN 978-0-85112-235-9</ref> These great sizes mark the beluga as the [[List of largest fish|largest]] [[freshwater]] fish in the world. A few other species of sturgeon can attain great sizes but none match the maximum sizes known for the beluga, like [[Chinese sturgeon|Chinese]], [[White sturgeon|Pacific White]], [[European sea sturgeon|Oceanic European]], [[Atlantic sturgeon|Atlantic]], [[Baikal sturgeon|Baikalian]], and [[Kaluga (fish)|Kaluga]], the latter a close cousin which can attain a maximum weight of {{convert|1000|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, thus attaining the second largest sturgeon size. It may be considered as a rival in size to the [[Ocean Sunfish|ocean sunfish]] among all extant bony fishes although that marine, passive giant has not been nearly as heavily fished nor takes as long to attain great sizes as does the beluga so more regularly attain massive weights. The Beluga also rivals the [[great white shark]], the [[Greenland shark]], and the [[tiger shark]] for the title of largest actively predatory fish, only the great white easily exceeding the beluga's maximum size. The giant belugas are much larger than the [[Mekong giant catfish]], the [[arapaima]] or other sizable rivals for the title of largest freshwater fish. Nevertheless, some scientists still consider the Mekong giant catfish to be the largest true freshwater fish, owing to sturgeons' ability to survive in [[seawater]] and that it spends much of its life in brackish environments.<ref name= Wood/><ref>Vecsei, P., Sucui, R., & Peterson, D. (2002). ''Threatened fishes of the world: Huso huso (Linnaeus, 1758)(Acipenseridae)''. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 65(3), 363-365.</ref><ref>Burton, M., & Burton, R. (2002). ''International Wildlife Encyclopedia: Index volume (Vol. 22)''. Marshall Cavendish.</ref>

Beluga of such great sizes are very old (continuing to grow throughout life) and have become increasingly rare in recent decades due to the heavy fishing of this species. Today, belugas that are caught are generally {{convert|142|-|328|cm|ft|abbr=on}} long and weigh {{convert|19|-|264|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. The female beluga is typically 20% larger than the male.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.caspianenvironment.org/biodb/eng/fishes/Huso%20huso/main.htm | title = ''Huso huso'' | publisher = caspianenvironment.org | year = 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Beluga.JPG|thumb|250px|A 1000-kg, 4.17-m-long beluga fish from the Volga river (National Museum of Tatarstan, Kazan, Russia)]]

== Uses ==
[[Beluga caviar]] is considered a delicacy worldwide.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://foodfancy.net/beluga-caviar-decadent-indulgence | title = ''Beluga Caviar'' | publisher = Food Fancy | date = September 2012}}</ref> The flesh of the beluga, though, is not particularly renowned but is a hearty white meat similar to that of swordfish. Beluga caviar has long been scarce and expensive and its endangered status has made its caviar more expensive in worldwide markets outside of the United States.

Its [[air bladder]] is said to make the best [[isinglass]].<ref>
{{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Huso}}
</ref>

== Status ==
[[IUCN]] classifies the beluga as [[critically endangered]]. It is a protected species listed in appendix III of the [[Bern Convention (conservation)|Bern Convention]], and its trade is restricted under [[CITES]] appendix II. The [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] population is strongly protected under appendix II of the Bern Convention, prohibiting any intentional killing of these fish.

The [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] has banned imports of beluga caviar and other beluga products from the Caspian Sea since October 6, 2005, after listing beluga sturgeon under the U.S. [[Endangered Species Act]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304093748.htm | title = Beluga Sturgeon Threatened With Extinction, Yet Caviar Quotas Remain Unchanged | publisher = ''[[Science Daily]]'' | date = March 4, 2008}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ITIS |id=161084 |taxon=Huso huso |accessdate=24 January 2006}}
* [http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/FR/Treaties/Html/104-2.htm Annex II of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Naturaabitats]. Revised 1 March 2002.

{{Acipenseriformes}}
{{diversity of fish}}

[[Category:Commercial fish]]
[[Category:Sturgeons]]
[[Category:Fish of Asia]]
[[Category:Fish of Russia]]
[[Category:Fish of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Fish of Iran]]
[[Category:Fish of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Fish of Europe]]
[[Category:Fish of Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Fish of Turkey]]
[[Category:Fish of the Adriatic Sea]]
[[Category:Fish of the Black Sea]]
[[Category:Fish of the Caspian Sea]]
[[Category:Megafauna of Eurasia]]
[[Category:Animals described in 1758]]