Gulf Sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)
Gulf sturgeon are anadromous, living in salt water and spawning in fresh water. From November through January, individuals reside in estuaries and near shores, where they feed on arthropods. It is a threatened species. |
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Gulf Sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)
This Gulf sturgeon was caught in Mobile Bay off Fairhope on February 21, 2006. It weighed 160 pounds, was tagged and released.
(photo by Scott Mettee)
Manager Biological Resources Geological Survey of Alabama
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Gulf Sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)
Their huge size and formidable armor render them impervious to attack.
(photo by Scott Mettee)
Manager Biological Resources Geological Survey of Alabama
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Gulf Sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)
Gulf sturgeons represent the oldest lineage of living bony fishes.
(photo by Scott Mettee)
Manager Biological Resources Geological Survey of Alabama
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Gulf Sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)
Gulf sturgeons grow slowly, age slowly, and reach sexual maturity later than nearly any fish. This is a dire situation for a species that is heavily fished.
(photo by Scott Mettee)
Manager Biological Resources Geological Survey of Alabama
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Atlantic Stingray
(Dasyatis sabina)
Atlantic Stingrays prefer shallow sandy estuarine areas. They are scavengers equipped with strong crushing jaws, capable of sucking in and mashing most any fish or shellfish. The photo was taken at the water's edge at the Fairhope Beach during a jubilee. |
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Sheepshead Minnows spawning
(Cyprinodon variegatus)
photo by John Borom
The sheepshead minnow can tolerate physical conditions of the most extreme ranges. They have been found to thrive in water more than twice as salty as oceanic water, and they have been observed spawning in two inch deep tide pools in the summer with the water so hot a human could hardly bear to stand it. Because they never leave their estuarine habitat, they must tolerate the coldest icy blasts in winter. |
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