Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus (Platform sturgeon)

Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus is a freshwater fish that belongs to the scaphirhynchidae family. It is mainly found in rivers and lakes in the United States, especially in large rivers such as Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio. This fish is also known as the Mississippi or black-fishing fish.

Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus has an average size of 60 to 70 cm and a weight of approximately 3 kg. It has an elongated and slender body, with a wide and flat head and a slightly forward mouth. His skin is covered with smooth and shiny scales, and has two back fins and an anal fin. Its color varies from gray to dark brown, with darker spots on the back and sides.

Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus is a carnivorous fish that feeds mainly on small fish, crustaceans and molluscs. He hunts his prey using his fins to quickly propel himself into the water, and he uses his mouth in the shape of a beak to capture them. Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus is also known for its ability to dig in the rivers bed to find hidden prey.

Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus is a migratory fish that goes up the rivers to reproduce. The breeding period generally takes place in the spring, when the waters of the rivers are warmer and quieter. Females can lay up to 100,000 eggs, which hatch in about three weeks. The fry feed mainly on plankton until they are large enough to hunt greater prey.

Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus is an important fish for the ecosystem of rivers and lakes in the United States. It plays a crucial role in the food chain by feeding on smaller fish and providing food for other species of fish and birds. Unfortunately, scaphirhynchus platorhynchus is threatened with extinction due to pollution, the overexploitation of resources and loss of habitat. It is currently classified as a species in danger by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.