- · Grid units represent actual meters (m); human and animals are drawn to the exact same scale with original silhouette aspect ratios preserved.
- · When a size range is recorded (e.g. 1–1.6m), the lower bound is used for scale comparison.
- · Kaluga silhouette: PhyloPic — Duane Raver/USFWS · Public Domain Mark 1.0 (Acipenser oxyrhynchus)
- · Human silhouette: PhyloPic — NASA · Public Domain Mark 1.0
Kaluga
Acipenser dauricus (Kaluga · Kaluga)
💡 Everyday Comparisons for Size, Mass & Speed
- 💡 A maximum length of 5.6 m is over 1 m longer than a passenger car (about 4.5 m) (comparison).
- 💡 A maximum weight of 1 metric ton is similar to the weight of a compact car (comparison).
- 💡 It is targeted by commercial fisheries, and its recorded lifespan of up to 80 years rivals the average human lifespan (FishBase).
Reference standards: coach bus ~12 m, mid-size car ~4.9 m, compact car ~1 t, basketball hoop 3.05 m, credit card 8.56 cm.
Site-computed relative index from recorded values; not a formal scientific metric.
📖 1. Overview
The kaluga is a large sturgeon living in large rivers and lakes, reported to live up to 80 years. Rather than spawning every year, its spawning interval lengthens as it ages.
🦴 2. Anatomy & Morphology
It is a huge sturgeon reported up to a maximum total length of 5.6 m and a maximum weight of 1 metric ton. It reaches maturity at 170–190 cm.
🔍 3. Ecology & Behavior
In its first year it eats invertebrates, around 3–4 years of age it switches to pelagic fishes such as juvenile salmonids, and when fully grown it feeds on adult fishes. Adults spawn at least once every 2 years, and as they age the interval lengthens to 3, 4, or more years.
🇰🇷 4. Connection to Korea
No direct record connecting this species to Korea has been found.
📚 Sources & References
- • IUCN Red List CR (2022) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10268/146104292
- • IUCN Red List category CR — latest assessment at iucnredlist.org
- • catalogueoflife.org — V9SYM
- • iucnredlist.org — 146104292
- • wikidata.org — Q106373119
- • fishbase.se — Acipenser-dauricus.html
- • Silhouette: PhyloPic — Duane Raver/USFWS · Public Domain Mark 1.0 (Congeneric silhouette — Acipenser oxyrhynchus)
Recorded dimensions are widely cited representative estimates from public literature and may vary by study or specimen.