What is Paddlefish?

Paddlefish is large, fresh water fish, which is unique thanks to its long snout, which is shaped as a oar or paddle of a ship. It belongs to the Polyodontidae family with just two known species, the American and the Chinese Paddlefish. However, the Chinese have not been seen for years and are considered extinct. Paddlefish usually lives in large rivers like Mississippi. Despite its large size, it is a fine fish that feeds on plankton, and protects the condition in many areas where it is still found. One of his most striking features is his huge, wide opening mouth, and the other is paddles similar to the snout for which he is called. The paddle is usually about a third of the body length and protrudes above the mouth.

The Paddlefish habitat occupies a large part of the United States in North America and stretches from the Eastern States to the West like the state of Montana. He lives mainly in large rivers like Missouri and Mississippi, as well as lakes and basin. According to fossil records, it is an ancient species that is assumed to have been in the areafor millions of years. For some time it has been a popular goal of sports fishermen and is now considered to be endangered in many regions.

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Paddlefish diet consists mainly of plankton, which consists of small plants and animals that float in water. The fish float with the mouth open and filter plankton from water with structures called Gill Rakers located on gills inside the mouth. Occasionally, tiny fish and insects are consumed from the filter water.

There are electrosensory receptors throughout the muzzle in the shape of a paddle that help Paddlefish Sense objects near it. Scientists believe that the fish uses them for navigation and helps to find food. The receptors can particularly important to help fish when they find their way to different areas of the river.

friction usually occurs at the end of May or early June, when the water level is high. The eggs are sticky and tend to stick to the gravel of the river wheels and hatch in about seven days. Young children are only about 1 inch (2.5 cm), but inElmi grow fast. Paddlefish can live up to 50 years in the right conditions.