It is found in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.

It is distinguished from other Acipenser species by its short snout with a rounded tip as well as its lower lip which is interrupted at its center.

This fish can be distinguish from the otherwise similar starry sturgeon by the shape of its snout, its barbels and scale arrangement.

It is an anadromous fish and moves into the river systems that drain into these seas in order to make its way to spawning areas upstream.

[6] The Russian sturgeon feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and small fishes such as gobies, anchovies and sprats.