Acipenser stellatus (Starry sturgeon)

Acisserer Stellatus fish, commonly known as star moon, is a kind of bone fish belonging to the Ecipenseridae family. This species is native to east of North America, where it lives in the fresh waters of the Great Lakes and Rivers. Star moonfish is an imposing fish, up to a length of 1.5 meters and a weight of 30 kg. Her dress is dark gray-blue on his back, with shiny scales that give it a star appearance, hence its name. His chest and belly are white or yellowish.

Star moonfish is a carnivorous animal that feeds mainly on fish, invertebrates and crustaceans. He has a narrow and elongated mouth, with sharp teeth which allow him to grasp and tear his food. His main hunting strategy is to wait in ambush near the funds of rivers and lakes, before throwing himself on his prey.

Star moonfish is a migratory species, which regularly moves between fresh waters and salt waters to reproduce. The breeding period takes place in summer, when the females lay their eggs in nests dug in the sediments of the rivers. The eggs hatch about a month later, and the fry feed mainly on plankton until they are large enough to hunt more substantial prey.

Unfortunately, star moonfish is threatened with extinction due to the overexploitation of its populations by fishermen, as well as the destruction of its natural habitat by human activities. Because of these factors, the species is classified as being critical of extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Efforts are underway to protect this endangered species, in particular by limiting fishing and creating natural reserves in the areas where it lives.