Green Sturgeon Identification Guide

Key identification features

• Olive-green to grayish-green coloration, distinct from the paler tones of most other sturgeons
• Sharply pointed, elongated snout
• An extra row of enlarged scutes running along the ventral midline (belly), in addition to the standard lateral and dorsal rows
• Four barbels positioned closer to the mouth than the snout tip
• Most marine-oriented of the North American sturgeons, tolerating open ocean water well
• Can reach up to 7 feet in length

Common look-alikes

• White Sturgeon: paler gray-white overall with a blunter snout in adults and no extra row of belly scutes, unlike the Green Sturgeon's olive tint and ventral scute row.
• Atlantic Sturgeon: similar general shape but restricted to the Atlantic coast, so range alone typically separates it from the Pacific-only Green Sturgeon.
• Juvenile White Sturgeon: young White Sturgeon have a pointed snout closer to a Green Sturgeon's, but still lack the diagnostic row of enlarged belly scutes.

Where you'll see one

Green Sturgeon range along the Pacific coast from Mexico to the Bering Sea, but spawn in only a handful of rivers, primarily the Sacramento, Klamath, Rogue, and Eel rivers. Outside of spawning season, they spend most of their time in coastal marine waters and estuaries rather than deep in freshwater systems.