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Paddlefish

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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.

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