Encyclopedia > Paddlefish

  Article Content

Paddlefish

Paddlefishes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Actinopterygii
Order:Acipenseriformes
Family:Polyodontidae
Species
Polyodon spathula
Psephurus gladius

Paddlefishes (family Polyodontidae) are bizarre-looking primitive ray-finned fishes whose snouts are greatly elongated, about 1/2 the length of the rest of the body. There are only two living species.

The Mississippi paddlefish Polyodon spathula lives in the slow-flowing waters of the Mississippi River system, feeding on zooplankton by straining them through gill rakers[?]. It may grow to 220 cm and weigh up to 100 kg. Its snout is not only long, but flattened into a paddle shape, thus the name; its purpose is still unclear. Once common throughout the Midwest, overfishing (both the meat and roe[?] are desirable) and river alteration have caused major population declines.

The Chinese swordfish Psephurus gladius lives in the Yangtze River. 3-meter specimens weighing 300 kg have been recorded; the reports of 7-meter fish are doubtful.

External links



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Monty Woolley

... 1945 - Nominated - Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Since You Went Away 1943 - Nominated - Best Actor in a Leading Role - The Pied Piper Woolley has a star ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 35.4 ms