White sturgeon are the largest freshwater fish in North America and can weigh over 1,500 pounds, be 20 feet in length, and live for over 100 years. Acipenser transmontanus , acipenser is an old world name meaning sturgeon and transmontanus meaning beyond the mountains. Pacific sturgeon, Oregon sturgeon, Columbia sturgeon, and Sacramento sturgeon. Like the green sturgeon the white sturgeon is a primitive, bottom dwelling fish. It is characterized by its large body size, large head and mouth, and long cylindrical body.
Scutes are actually large modified scales, that serve as a type of armor or protection.
Dorsal color is dark to light gray, pale olive, or gray-brown. The white sturgeon's ventral or bottom surface is white. The scutes are lighter than the body in color, and the fins are dusky to opaque gray. The white sturgeon is a slow growing, late maturing anadromous fish. White sturgeon spawn in large rivers in the spring and summer months and remain in fresh water while young.