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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.
External links
- FishBase entry for Polyodontidae (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/FamilySummary.cfm?ID=33)
- USGS UMESC Paddlefish Study (http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/aquatic/fish/paddlefish/main.html)