ɪɾ ɪz dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl fɹʌm ˈʌðɚ jˌʊɹɹəpˈiən spˈiːsiːz ʌv stˈɜːdʒənz baɪ ðə pɹˈɛzəns əvə ɡɹˈeɪt nˈʌmbɚɹ ʌv wˈaɪɾɪʃ lˈæɾɚɹəl skjˈuːts, fɹˈɪndʒd bˈɑːɹbəlz, ænd ɐn ˈiːlˌɑːŋɡeɪɾᵻd ænd nˈæɹoʊ snˈaʊt, hˈaɪli vˈɛɹɪəbəl ɪn lˈɛŋθ.
It is distinguishable from other European species of sturgeons by the presence of a great number of whitish lateral scutes, fringed barbels, and an elongated and narrow snout, highly variable in length.