Scaphirhynchinae

White Shovelnose ( Scaphirhynchus albus)

The blade sturgeon ( Scaphirhynchinae ) are a subfamily of sturgeons ( Acipenseridae ). It includes two genera, one each in North America and Central Asia, with 3 species. The fish have a flattened rostrum. A Spiraculum does not exist. Probably the Scaphirhynchinen are no phylogenetic unit, but include as dwarf forms in each case to the Acipenserinen their animal geographic region ( Grande and Bemis 1991).

The Asian species are relatively small for interference with lengths of 27-70 centimeters. They are endemic to the rivers Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, which discharge into the Aral Sea. All three species are considered endangered.

Species

  • Genus Pseudoscaphirhynchus, (3 species in Central Asia, a short, non-armored tail fins stalk) Syr - Shovelnose ( Pseudoscaphirhynchus fedtschenkoi )
  • Little Amu - Shovelnose ( Pseudoscaphirhynchus hermanni )
  • Large Amu - Shovelnose ( Pseudoscaphirhynchus mercantile )
  • Genus Scaphirhynchus (3 species in North America, long, armored tail fins stalk) White Shovelnose ( Scaphirhynchus albus)
  • Shovelnose ( Scaphirhynchus platorynchus )
  • Alabama Shovelnose ( Scaphirhynchus suttkusi )

Phylogeny

As the oldest Shovelnose applies Protopsephurus from the Lower Cretaceous of China. Structurally it is the sister group of all other taxa.

Snout
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