Paddlefish [Polyodon]

Description

Polyodon, commonly known as the American paddlefish, is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Polyodontidae. These fish are characterized by their long, paddle-shaped snout, which is nearly one-third of their body length. They inhabit slow-moving waters of the Mississippi River basin and are filter feeders, primarily consuming zooplankton. The paddle is used to detect electrical fields produced by plankton. Paddlefish have smooth skin, lack scales, and have skeletons made mostly of cartilage. They are an ancient species, with fossil records dating back over 300 million years, making them living fossils.

Species

American Paddlefish [Polyodon spathula]

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Chinese Paddlefish [Psephurus gladius]