The earliest known paddlefish fossil, Protopsephurus, dates to approximately 120 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous epoch in China. Throughout their historic range, paddlefish populations …

Paddlefish inhabit slow-moving, large, deep, freshwater rivers and reservoirs. They only eat plankton, which are microscopic plants and animals. They eat by simply swimming around with their mouth open.

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 …

Jan 5, 2026 · 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 …

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: …

There are only two species of paddlefish in the world; an extremely endangered (possibly extinct) species found in China, and our North American species, currently found in 22 states throughout the …

6 days ago · Its lineage dates back approximately 125 million years, making it a contemporary of the dinosaurs. This ancient freshwater fish is instantly recognizable by its long, flattened snout and a …

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 paddlefish, a fascinating creature known for its unique rostrum resembling a canoe paddle, is a marvel of evolution and adaptation. These ancient fish have intrigued scientists and nature …

Paddlefish inhabit river systems, lakes, and reservoirs across the United States, with a concentration in the Mississippi River Basin. They prefer large, slow-moving waters rich in plankton, where they can …