Strange Rare Fish From Time of the Dinosaurs Washes Up on East Coast

A rare and strange fish from a species that dates back to the time of the dinosaurs has washed up on the U.S. East Coast.
The dead Atlantic sturgeon was spotted by naturalist and photographer Allen Sklar on the shore of Assateague Island, a 37-mile-long strip of land along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia. He took several images of the large fish, which measured about 3 feet in length.
"I drive the 12 miles of beach about 100 days a year and so see a lot of stuff others don't," Sklar, who specializes in Assateague's history, wildlife and ecology, told Newsweek. "This was the second sturgeon I have seen [dead] in 27 years of driving on the island."
The Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) is a large fish found in rivers and coastal waters from Canada to Florida. It can reach lengths of 14 feet and a weight of more than 800 pounds, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
These fish, which generally live up to about 60 years, have a distinctive appearance, with five rows of protective bony plates, called scutes, that run along their body; long snouts; and shark-like tails.
Atlantic sturgeon were once far more abundant than they are today. But overfishing during the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as habitat loss, led to a drastic decline in their numbers. These fish were prized for their eggs, which are considered a source of high-quality caviar.
Strange Rare Fish From Time of the Dinosaurs Washes Up on East Coast