The osetra is a medium-sized sturgeon probes the sea bed with a projecting snout. The snout is elongate and there are four barbels on its lower surface. It is equipped to vacuum up plants and small forms of sea life. Osetra caviar is dark brown-gray to golden. It is the only variety of caviar with a unique nut flavour.
Other language names osetra, asetra, oscetra, ossetra, ossetrova.