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Esocidae Genus Level Identifiers
Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
General things to look for:
- Snout shape and length.
- The "rate" at which the body tapers posteriorly.
Genus Acipenser- Snout somewhat conical. Tail region (from anal fin to caudal fin) gently tapers posteriorly.
Genus Scaphirhynchus - Snout depressed and shovel-shaped. Tail region tapers very abruptly posteriorly. Tail region very thin.
Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus)