Description:
The shortnose sturgeon is a large, elongate fish that grows 3.3 - 4.3 feet in length. The upper jaw is elongate and ends in a blunt, shovel-like, snout. The tail is shark-like, with the upper lobe longer than the lower. The head is convex in profile, and armored with bony plates. The mouth is ventral and broad. Four barbels extend across the width of the snout and are set midway between the mouth and the tip of the snout. No teeth are present in adults.

Five rows of bony scutes line the length of the body.  The dorsal and anal fins are set opposite one another in the posterior portion of the body.  There are no dorsal or anal spines.  Body color ranges from dark brown to black above, to a paler light brown or yellow color along the lower sides, to white beneath.  Females resemble males, but tend to grow somewhat larger. Sex can be determined externally only during spawning.

Habitat:
Shortnose sturgeons inhabit river mouths, lakes, estuaries, bays, and some near-shore areas. Some are reported to occasionally enter open marine waters. Individuals less than 5 years of age use primarily estuarine habitats for most of the year.  Adults utilize separate summer and wintering areas, though greatest abundance occurs in estuaries. Foraging habitat includes vegetated backwaters, and shallow river banks where water is less than 7 feet deep. 

Similar Species:
Shortnose sturgeons are similar in appearance to a related species, the Atlantic sturgeon. Adults are easily distinguished based on size:   shortnose sturgeons grow to approximately 3.3 feet in length, while the Atlantic sturgeon grows longer than 13 feet. Additionally, the snout in shortnose sturgeons is broader and shorter than in the Atlantic sturgeon. 

Range:
Shortnose sturgeons range along the entire Atlantic coast of North America, from the Saint John River in New Brunswick, Canada to the St. Johns River, Florida (Gilbert 1989). It is significantly more common in northern portions of its range than it is in the south. Historical accounts document shortnose sturgeons in Volusia County and some other areas of the IRL, but sightings are extremely rare.