The lake sturgeon is the longest-lived freshwater fish in North America, with individuals recorded at more than 150 years old. Its scientific name is Acipenser fulvescens.
Lake sturgeon inhabit large rivers and lakes in North America, especially around the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin. They grow slowly, mature late, and may require many years before reproducing, making populations vulnerable to overfishing and habitat disruption.
Their long, pointed snout and rows of bony plates identify them as sturgeons rather than typical scaled fish. Lake sturgeon are sometimes confused with white sturgeon, which can also become very large, but lake sturgeon are the species associated with this exceptional freshwater longevity record.