| Family: |
Polyodontidae (Paddlefishes) |
| Max. size: |
221 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 91 kg; max. reported age: 55 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; depth range - 2 m, potamodromous |
| Distribution: |
North America: Mississippi River basin from southwestern New York to Montana and south to Louisiana; Gulf Slope drainagaes from Mobile Bay in Alabama, to Galveston Bay in Texas, USA. Formerly in Great Lakes basin, probably extirpated. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction. |
| Diagnosis: |
Snout long, canoe-paddle-shaped; gill cover with large, fleshy, pointed flap (Ref. 86798). |
| Biology: |
Usually inhabits water deeper than 1.2 m in slow-flowing large rivers, lakes, and impoundments (Ref. 86798). Feeds on plankton. The extended upper jaw (= paddle) may help to channel plankton into the mouth. Threatened due to over harvesting, habitat loss and pollution (Ref. 58490). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 14 September 2019 (A2cd) Ref. (130435)
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| Threat to humans: |
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