Endangered Pallid Sturgeon Larvae Found in Missouri River

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Scientists say that three fish larvae captured from the Missouri River last year have been confirmed as those of the endangered pallid sturgeon.

A U.S. Geological Survey news release issued Thursday says the 1- to 3-day-old larvae were among hundreds of larval shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish collected near Bellevue, Nebraska on May 30th, 2014.

Survey scientists say the discovery indicates that pallid sturgeon successfully spawned in the lower Missouri River downstream of Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota.

But the scientists warned that the successful spawning does not necessarily indicate that the species is on its way to recovery.

Scientist Aaron DeLonay says the pallid sturgeon population is still small and that reproduction sufficient to increase the population has not been documented.

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