Adams, S. R., G. R. Parsons, J. J. Hoover and K. J. Killgore (1997).  
Observations of swimming ability in shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus 
platorynchus. Journal of Freshwater Ecology.  12:631-633.
	
Swimming performance and behaviour of five adult (57 - 69 cm fork length) 
shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus, were studied in a 945-L swim 
tunnel at 16o C. Fifteen-minute critical swimming speeds ranged from 65 to 116 
cm s-1. Sturgeon swam volitionally at low speeds (5-30 cm s-1), but at higher 
speeds (40 - 120 cm s-1) sturgeon alternated between active swimming and 
appressing themselves to the bottom of the tunnel. This second behaviour is 
enhanced by sturgeon morphology - streamlined body shape, flat rostrum, and 
large pectoral fins. It allows shovelnose sturgeon to exploit river bottoms as a 
refugia from current and maintain position in high velocities.