# Sterlet (*Acipenser ruthenus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/sterlet  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), also called the sterlet sturgeon, is a bony fish in the family Acipenseridae. It belongs to the order Acipenseriformes and the class Chondrostei, and its scientific name was given by Linnaeus, 1758. The IUCN Red List assesses the sterlet globally as Endangered (EN), a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | riverine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Endangered (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Chondrostei
- order: Acipenseriformes
- family: Acipenseridae
- genus: Acipenser
- species: *Acipenser ruthenus* Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms: *Acipenser dubius*, *Acipenser dubius*, *Acipenser gmelini*, *Acipenser jeniscensis*, *Acipenser jenisensis*, *Acipenser kamensis*, *Acipenser kankreni*, *Acipenser koster*, *Acipenser kostera*, *Acipenser lovetzkyi*, *Acipenser marsiglii*, *Acipenser pygmaeus*, *Acipenser ruthenicus*, *Acipenser ruthensis*, *Acipenser ruthenus*, *Acipenser ruthenus*, *Acipenser ruthenus alba*, *Acipenser ruthenus albinea*, *Acipenser ruthenus birostrata*, *Acipenser ruthenus brevirostris*, *Acipenser ruthenus erytraea*, *Acipenser ruthenus grisescens*, *Acipenser ruthenus leucotica*, *Acipenser ruthenus obtusirostris*, *Acipenser ruthenus rutzskyi*, *Acipenser ruthenus ruzskyi*, *Acipenser ruthenus septemcarinata*, *Acipenser ruthenus var. alba*, *Acipenser ruthenus var. albinea*, *Acipenser ruthenus var. birostrata*, *Acipenser ruthenus var. brevirostris*, *Acipenser ruthenus var. erytraea*, *Acipenser ruthenus var. grisescens*, *Acipenser ruthenus var. leucotica*, *Acipenser ruthenus var. obtusirostra*, *Acipenser ruthenus var. septemcarinata*, *Acipenser sterlet*, *Sterledus ruthenus*, *Sterledus ruthenus sibiricus*, *Sterledus ruthenus var. sibiricus*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the sterlet?

The sterlet is a fish, specifically a bony fish. It belongs to the family Acipenseridae in the order Acipenseriformes.

### What is the scientific name of the sterlet?

The scientific name of the sterlet is Acipenser ruthenus. It is placed in the genus Acipenser.

### Is the sterlet endangered?

Yes. The sterlet is listed as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List in a global assessment, which is a threatened category.

### Who named the sterlet and when?

The sterlet was named by Linnaeus in 1758, written as Linnaeus, 1758.

### What other names does the sterlet have?

The sterlet is also called the sterlet sturgeon in English.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/sterlet