Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
Paddlefish are large freshwater fish of the Mississippi River basin, favoring broad, slow channels, backwaters, and reservoirs. They swim with their mouths open to filter tiny zooplankton from the water rather than chasing prey. Their long paddle-shaped rostrum is packed with electroreceptors that help detect plankton clouds in murky water. Despite their sharklike outline, they are ancient relatives of sturgeons and have mostly cartilaginous skeletons.
- Type
- Water
- Conservation status
- VU
Growth chain
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- Paddlefish