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What the sources say

Beluga SturgeonHuso huso

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Beluga Sturgeon profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 41 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Huso huso (Beluga). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysA giant sturgeon that mostly hunts open-water fish and now survives largely through hatcheries.
The source saysAdult beluga sturgeon are mainly piscivores, swimming at middle depths and preying mostly on pelagic fish species.Note: tagline, hunting half
The page saysA giant sturgeon that mostly hunts open-water fish, with spawning migrations recorded at over 2,500 km
The source saysAdult beluga sturgeon are mainly piscivores, swimming at middle depths and preying mostly on pelagic fish species.Note: stats.superpower; 2,500 km = 2500 km in quote
The page saysA giant sturgeon that mostly hunts open-water fish, with spawning migrations recorded at over 2,500 km
The source saysDistances for spawning migrations for this species are legendary, exceeding 2500 km in the Danube and Volga basinNote: stats.superpower; 2,500 km = 2500 km in quote
The page saysMost sturgeons swim along the bottom, feeding on invertebrates that live there.
The source saysThis is unlike most other sturgeon species, which normally feed on bethic invertebrates while swimming along the bottom.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web says adults are mainly piscivores, which means fish-eaters, swimming at middle depths and preying mostly on pelagic fish, the ones that live in open water.
The source saysAdult beluga sturgeon are mainly piscivores, swimming at middle depths and preying mostly on pelagic fish species.
The page saysIn the Black Sea its prey includes flounder and other flatfish, gobies and anchovies.
The source saysIn the Black Sea they feed on species such as flounder (Platichthys flesus) and other flatfish, gobies (Gobiidae), and Black Sea anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus)
The page saysSturgeons and their relatives have a fossil record dating back to the Lower Jurassic, about 200 million years ago
The source saysAcipenseriformes are primitive actinopterygians that have a fossil record dating back to the Lower Jurassic (200 mya)Note: scope is the order Acipenseriformes
The page saysand an inner skeleton of cartilage, a trait they share with sharks and rays.
The source sayselasmobranch-like characters (cartilaginous endoskeleton, hyostylic jaw suspension)
The page saysIn 2003 Animal Diversity Web said belugas of 4 to 6 meters, a fifth of all catches in the 14th century, were extremely rare.
The source saysBased on Debus's (1997) reports on bones excavated from the 14th century, one fifth of all H. huso catches of that time were between 4-6 meters in length. Beluga this size today are extremely rare.Note: 2003 = ADW page date (Chakrabarty 2003, last updated 2003-05-22); present-tense state put in the past
The page saysFemale spawners in the Volga River from 1987 to 1997 measured 199 to 236 cm and weighed 48 to 160 kg, much smaller than the sizes recorded in earlier years.
The source saysFrom 1987-1997 in the Volga River (which was once the most important spawning habitat of beluga), female spawners have ranged from 199 to 236 cm, and weighed between 48 to 160 kg (Levin 1997). These are much smaller than recorded sizes for previous years.
The page saysIn 2003 Animal Diversity Web noted that most belugas were fished soon after they reached breeding age.
The source saysIndividuals no longer die of natural-age related causes, with most being fished soon after reaching reproductive maturity.Note: 2003 = ADW page date (Chakrabarty 2003, last updated 2003-05-22); present-tense state put in the past
The page saysIt is anadromous, which means it lives at sea and swims up rivers to breed.
The source saysBeluga sturgeon are anadromous, migrating to freshwater spawning grounds in rivers from larger seas (either the Caspian, Azov or Black).
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web calls its spawning migrations legendary, at over 2,500 km in the Danube and Volga basins.
The source saysDistances for spawning migrations for this species are legendary, exceeding 2500 km in the Danube and Volga basin
The page saysA beluga usually matures after its 12th year
The source saysBeluga sturgeon mature later than most other acipenseriforms, usually after their 12th year
The page saysthe parents give the eggs no care.
The source saysdo not provide parental care
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web reported in 2003 that most populations were supported solely by hatchery-released fish: in the 1980s, 19.4 million young were released from the Volga each year, and an estimated 0.1 percent survived.
The source saysMost populations are supported solely by hatchery released individuals. In the 1980's the number of young beluga's released from the Volga river per year was 19.4 million. The survival rate of these individuals was estimated to be 0.1%Note: 2003 = ADW page date (Chakrabarty 2003, last updated 2003-05-22); present-tense state put in the past
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web says adults swim at middle depths and prey mostly on open-water fish, while most other sturgeons feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates.
The source saysAdult beluga sturgeon are mainly piscivores, swimming at middle depths and preying mostly on pelagic fish species.Note: FAQ 4
The page saysBeluga spawning migrations run over 2,500 km in the Danube and Volga basins
The source saysDistances for spawning migrations for this species are legendary, exceeding 2500 km in the Danube and Volga basinNote: vibe.reason

Source
02

FishBase

Huso huso (Linnaeus, 1758), Beluga. FishBase.

The page saysA giant sturgeon that mostly hunts open-water fish and now survives largely through hatcheries.
The source saysSurvives largely by artificial propagation.Note: tagline, hatchery half
The page saysThe Caspian, Black and Azov seas, running up large rivers to spawn
The source saysEurasia: Caspian, Black, Azov and Adriatic Sea basins.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysThe Caspian, Black and Azov seas, running up large rivers to spawn
The source saysUndertakes upriver migration to spawn.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysMostly sea fishes such as anchovies, gobies and flatfishes, plus some crustaceans and mollusks
The source saysFeeds mostly on sea fishes (Black Sea whiting, anchovies, flatfishes, gobies, fry of bottom-living fishes), also crustaceans, mollusks, mysids and amphipods.Note: stats.diet
The page saysFishBase adds that it also eats crustaceans and mollusks.
The source saysFeeds mostly on sea fishes (Black Sea whiting, anchovies, flatfishes, gobies, fry of bottom-living fishes), also crustaceans, mollusks, mysids and amphipods.
The page saysFishBase lists a maximum length of 800 cm and a maximum published weight of 3.2 tonnes.
The source saysMax length : 800 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043 ); common length : 215 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3397 ); max. published weight: 3.2 t (Ref. 59043 ); max. reported age: 118 years (Ref. 47437 )
The page saysIt calls the beluga the largest sturgeon and the largest European freshwater fish, with a common length of 215 cm.
The source saysThe largest sturgeon and largest European freshwater fish.
The page saysIt calls the beluga the largest sturgeon and the largest European freshwater fish, with a common length of 215 cm.
The source saysMax length : 800 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043 ); common length : 215 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3397 ); max. published weight: 3.2 t (Ref. 59043 ); max. reported age: 118 years (Ref. 47437 )
The page saysThe maximum reported age is 118 years, according to FishBase.
The source saysMax length : 800 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043 ); common length : 215 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3397 ); max. published weight: 3.2 t (Ref. 59043 ); max. reported age: 118 years (Ref. 47437 )
The page saysThe beluga lives in the Caspian, Black and Azov sea basins, and FishBase says it has been extirpated, meaning wiped out locally, from the Adriatic Sea.
The source saysEurasia: Caspian, Black, Azov and Adriatic Sea basins. Extirpated from Adriatic Sea.
The page saysFishBase says females carry eggs only once every five to seven years.
The source saysFemales carry eggs only once every five to seven yearsNote: current FishBase page preferred over ADW 2003 (4-8 years, Raspopov 1993)
The page saysEach female holds about 360,000 to 7,700,000 eggs
The source saysAbout 360,000-7,700,000 eggs per female.
The page saysFishBase says it is threatened by overfishing for meat at sea and for caviar in the estuaries, and that it survives largely by artificial propagation, meaning hatchery breeding.
The source saysThreatened due to overfishing for meat at the sea and for caviar in estuaries.Note: second half: 'Survives largely by artificial propagation.'
The page saysEnormous. FishBase records a maximum length of 800 cm and a top published weight of 3.2 tonnes, and names it Europe's largest freshwater fish as well as the largest sturgeon.
The source saysMax length : 800 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043 ); common length : 215 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3397 ); max. published weight: 3.2 t (Ref. 59043 ); max. reported age: 118 years (Ref. 47437 )Note: FAQ 1
The page saysEnormous. FishBase records a maximum length of 800 cm and a top published weight of 3.2 tonnes, and names it Europe's largest freshwater fish as well as the largest sturgeon.
The source saysThe largest sturgeon and largest European freshwater fish.Note: FAQ 1
The page saysTypical fish are far shorter: FishBase puts the common length at 215 cm.
The source saysMax length : 800 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043 ); common length : 215 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3397 ); max. published weight: 3.2 t (Ref. 59043 ); max. reported age: 118 years (Ref. 47437 )Note: FAQ 1
The page saysA very long time. The oldest age FishBase reports is 118 years.
The source saysMax length : 800 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043 ); common length : 215 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3397 ); max. published weight: 3.2 t (Ref. 59043 ); max. reported age: 118 years (Ref. 47437 )Note: FAQ 2
The page saysOverfishing, says FishBase: at sea for its meat and in river estuaries for its caviar.
The source saysThreatened due to overfishing for meat at the sea and for caviar in estuaries.Note: FAQ 3
The page saysThe species now survives largely by artificial propagation, and FishBase lists it as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
The source saysSurvives largely by artificial propagation.Note: FAQ 3
The page saysThe species now survives largely by artificial propagation, and FishBase lists it as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
The source saysCritically Endangered (CR) (A2bcd)Note: FAQ 3; FishBase IUCN box, Version 2025-2
The page saysThe Caspian, Black and Azov seas, running up large rivers to spawn
The source saysSpawns in the main course of large and deep rivers with strong currentNote: stats.habitat, 'large'

Source
03

Sayer et al. 2024

Sayer et al. (2024). Huso huso. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T10269A240929386.

The page saysCritically Endangered
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Critically Endangered (CR).Note: status; GBIF copy of the Red List, taxon 10269, assessed 2023
The page saysThe IUCN lists the beluga sturgeon as Critically Endangered.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Critically Endangered (CR).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.