Comparative neuromorphology of the telencephalon of sturgeon of the genera Acipenser, Huso and Scaphirhynchus (Actinopterygii; Acipenseridae)

Brain anatomy and structure, composition of the neurons, and cytoarchitectural maps were compared between five species of Acipenser, one species of Huso and two species of Scaphirhynchus. Morphological differences in the forebrain structure between species and genera were apparent. The evolutionary history of the Acipenseridae has been marked by an extensive mosaic radiation in the evolutionary development of the inner structure of their brains. Members of Scaphirhynchus have a very simple telencephalon structure differing significantly from that of Huso and Acipenser. It is clear that neuromorphological variation of sturgeon species will serve as an additional data useful in understanding the evolutionary processes and history associated with the speciation in Acipenseridae.