Other Freshwater
Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
FreshwaterPolyodontidaeVulnerable
About
Paddlefish are primitive filter-feeding fish characterized by their elongated, paddle-shaped rostrum (snout), which is covered in electroreceptors used to detect zooplankton. They are migratory and inhabit large, free-flowing rivers and associated floodplain habitats.
- Average size
- 3-5 feet, 60-200 lbs
- Colors
- Bluish-gray to gray
- Diet
- Zooplankton, insects, and algae
- Region
- Mississippi River Basin and Gulf Coast drainages of the United States