A Chinese sturgeon, which was found dead on Oct. 11 in the river Congyang in Anqing, Anhui Province, may have died from an electric shock or illness while trying to reach a spawning ground, according to a doctor of aquatic life.

The Chinese sturgeon, which was 3.43 meters long and weighed 200 kilograms, was found in the Yangtze River, and was much larger than sturgeon normally are, said Zhang Xiaoke, a doctor of Aquatic Life at Anqing Normal College.

According to Zhang, the sturgeon was found almost without any blemishes except for a huge wound on its tailfin. Experts believe the fish was about 20 years old, much less than the average life span for a Chinese sturgeon.

Every September and October, adult Chinese sturgeons swim down the Yangtze River to the Three Gorges to lay eggs, after which they return to the sea.

This Chinese sturgeon was found about two to three days after its death by cruise vessels. It has become a specimen for research.

Chinese sturgeons are grade-one protected animals in China. They are considered living fossils for research on the evolution of fish and vertebrates.

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