Paddlefish (family Polyodontidae) are a family of ray-finned fish belonging to order Acipenseriformes, and one of two living groups of the order alongside sturgeons (Acipenseridae). [3] [4] They are distinguished from other fish by their elongated rostra, which are thought to enhance electroreception to detect prey.

The American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), also known as a Mississippi paddlefish, spoon-billed cat, or spoonbill, is a species of ray-finned fish. It is the last living species of paddlefish (Polyodontidae).

Paddlefish can be distinguished from all other North American freshwater fishes by the presence of a large, paddle-shaped rostrum (up to 1/3 total body length) on the snout anterior to the mouth. The overall color of a paddlefish is bluish gray to blackish on the back, grading to white on its belly. Paddlefish can also live for a long time.

paddlefish, (Polyodon spathula), archaic freshwater fish with a paddlelike snout, a wide mouth, smooth skin, and a cartilaginous skeleton. A relative of the sturgeon, the paddlefish makes up the family Polyodontidae in the order Acipenseriformes.

Jul 4, 2023 · Paddlefish, also known as spoonbill, are a unique species of freshwater fish that are native to North America. With their long snouts and distinctive appearance, they are often the subject of curiosity for anglers and food enthusiasts alike. But are paddlefish good to eat?

May 27, 2024 · The paddlefish, also known as the American paddlefish, Mississippi paddlefish, and spoonbill fish, is a freshwater fish that is primarily found in the open waters of the Mississippi River basin. With the Chinese paddlefish, it was one …

Nov 10, 2024 · Paddlefish (Polyodon spatula) are one of North America’s most distinctive freshwater fish species. They are a member of the Acipenseriformes order, which contains only one other species: sturgeon. After the extinction of the Chinese paddlefish, they are the only surviving member of the Polyodontidae family.

Missouri’s official state aquatic animal, the paddlefish is highly valued as a sport fish. It is valued for its flesh as well as for its caviar. Because it is one of the most ancestral fish species alive today, it is of considerable interest to biological research.

Paddlefish have a gray, shark-like body with a deeply forked tail, and a long, flat blade-like snout (looks like a kitchen spatula) almost one third of its body's entire length. It opens its huge mouth when feeding. Paddlefish resemble sharks not only by shape, but by their skeletons as well.

The American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula, also known as a Mississippi paddlefish, spoon-billed cat, or spoonbill) is a species of ray-finned fish. It is the last living species of paddlefish (Polyodontidae).