Description:
As the common name suggests, the Alabama Sturgeon is found in the Mobile Basin predominantly in Alabama, but also in eastern Mississippi. They are found in large rivers with sand and gravel substrate. No individuals of this federally endangered species have been seen since 2008, and the species is on the brink of extinction due to construction of dams impacting reproductive success. Alabama Sturgeon are the smallest river sturgeon with a maximum size of just under three feet.
Literature:
- (Articles, if available online, are hyperlinked)
- 2009
- Rider, S. J., and J. R. Powell. 2009. Scaphirhynchus suttkusi – Alabama Sturgeon, p. 11-12. In: The Desperate Dozen: Southeastern Freshwater Fishes on the Brink. B. R. Kuhajda, A. L. George, and J. D. Williams (eds.). Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings 51:10-30.
- USFWS (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2009. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; designation of critical habitat for Alabama Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus suttkusi). Federal Register 74:26488-26510.
- 2007
- Keevin, T. M., S. G. George, J. J. Hoover, B. R. Kuhajda, and R. L. Mayden. 2007. Food habits of the endangered Alabama Sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus suttkusi Williams and Clemmer, 1991 (Acipenseridae). Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23:500-505.
- Ray, J. M., C. B. Dillman, R. M. Wood, R. L. Mayden, and B. R. Kuhajda. 2007. Microsatellite analysis of the endangered river sturgeons (Scaphirhynchus species) from the lower Mississippi River basin. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23:304-312.
- Rider, S. J., and P. Hartfield. 2007. Conservation and collection efforts for the endangered Alabama Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus suttkusi). Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23:489-493.
- 2004
- Kuhajda, B. R. 2004a. Alabama Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus suttkusi, p. 175-176. In: Alabama Wildlife. Volume 2. Imperiled Aquatic Mollusks and Fishes. R. E. Mirarchi, J. T. Garner, M. F. Mettee, and P. E. O’Neil (eds.). The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.
- Kuhajda, B. R. 2004b. Alabama Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus suttkusi, p. 131. In: Alabama Wildlife. Volume 4. Conservation and Management Recommendations for Imperiled Wildlife. R. E. Mirarchi, M. A. Bailey, J. T. Garner, T. M. Haggerty, T. L. Best, M. F. Mettee, and P. E. O’Neil (eds.). The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.
- Simons, A. M., R. M. Wood, L. S. Heath, B. R. Kuhajda, and R. L. Mayden. 2001. Phylogenetics of Scaphirhynchus based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 130:359-366.
- ADCNR (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Alabama-Tombigbee Rivers Coalition. 2000. Conservation agreement and strategy for the Alabama sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus suttkusi. Montgomery, Alabama.
- Campton, D. E., A. L. Bass, F. A. Chapman, and B. W. Bowen. 2000. Genetic distinction of Pallid, Shovelnose, and Alabama Sturgeon: emerging species and the US Endangered Species Act. Conservation Genetics 1:17-32.
- Scharpf, C. 2000. Politics, science, and the fate of the Alabama Sturgeon. American Currents 2000:6–14.
- USFWS (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2000. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; final rule to list the Alabama Sturgeon as endangered. Federal Register 65:26438-26461.
- Mayden, R. L., and B. R. Kuhajda. 1997. Threatened fishes of the world: Scaphirhynchus suttkusi Williams & Clemmer, 1991 (Acipenseridae). Environmental Biology of Fishes 48:418-419.
- USFWS (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 1997. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; review of plant and animal taxa that are candidates or proposed for listing as endangered or threatened, annual notice of findings on recycled petitions, and annual description of progress on listing actions. Federal Register 62:49398-49411.
- Biggins, R. 1994. Federal activities that may affect the Alabama Sturgeon and anticipated section 7 consultations on these activities. Paper jointly prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- USFWS (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 1994. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; withdraw of proposed rule for endangered status and critical habitat for the Alabama Sturgeon. Federal Register 59:64794-64809.
- USFWS (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 1989. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; animal notice of review. Federal Register 54:554-579.
- Williams, J. E., J. E. Johnson, D. A. Hendrickson, S. Contreras-Balderas, J. D. Williams, M. Navarro-Mendoza, D. E. McAllister, and J. E. Deacon. 1989. Fishes of North America endangered, threatened, or of special concern: 1989. Fisheries 14:2-20.
- Ramsey, J. S. 1986. Alabama Shovelnose Sturgeon, p. 18-19. In: Vertebrate Animals of Alabama in Need of Special Attention. R. H. Mount (ed.). Alabama Agricultural Experimental Station, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.
- Burke, J. S., and J. S. Ramsey. 1985. Status survey of the Alabama Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus sp. cf. platorynchus) in the Mobile Bay drainage. Report to U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jackson, Mississippi.
- USFWS (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 1985. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; review of vertebrate wildlife. Federal Register 50:37958-37967.
- Jenkins, R. E. 1976. A list of undescribed freshwater fish species of continental United States and Canada, with additions to the 1970 checklist. Copeia 1976:642-644.
- Ramsey, J. S. 1976. Freshwater fishes, p. 53-65. In: Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of Alabama. H. Boschung (ed.). Bulletin Alabama Museum of Natural History 2.
- 2001
- 2000
- 1997
- 1994
- 1989
- 1986
- 1985
- 1976
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