\Stur"geon\, n. [F. esturgeon, LL. sturio, sturgio,
OHG. sturjo, G. st["o]r; akin to AS. styria, styriga.]
(Zo["o]l.)
Any one of numerous species of large cartilaginous ganoid
fishes belonging to {Acipenser} and allied genera of the
family {Acipenserid[ae]}. They run up rivers to spawn, and
are common on the coasts and in the large rivers and lakes of
North America, Europe, and Asia. Caviare is prepared from the
roe, and isinglass from the air bladder.
Note: The common North American species are {Acipenser
      sturio} of the Atlantic coast region, {A.
      transmontanus} of the Pacific coast, and {A.
      rubicundus} of the Mississippi River and its
      tributaries. In Europe, the common species is
      {Acipenser sturio}, and other well-known species are
      the sterlet and the huso. The sturgeons are included in
      the order Chondrostei. Their body is partially covered
      by five rows of large, carinated, bony plates, of which
      one row runs along the back. The tail is heterocercal.
      The toothless and protrusile mouth is beneath the head,
      and has four barbels in front.
{Shovel-nosed sturgeon}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Shovelnose}
(d) .