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American Paddlefish

Fish

The American paddlefish is a large freshwater fish native to the Mississippi River basin, closely related to sturgeons within the order Acipenseriformes. It carries a flat, paddle-shaped rostrum roughly a third of its body length, covered in thousands of electroreceptors that detect the movement of zooplankton. Adults typically reach about 1.5 meters and 27 kilograms, filter-feeding by swimming with an open mouth and straining prey over its gill rakers. Habitat loss and overfishing have reduced its range from historic levels, and it is currently listed as Vulnerable.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Filter Feeder 1
System (Realm)
Freshwater 2
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 3
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
G3 Vulnerable 4
CITES Appendix
Appendix II 1
Scientific Name
Polyodon spathula 3
Conservation Status
Vulnerable 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Actinopterygii, Taxa
Source American Paddlefish (Wikidata)

In Biome

Lake, Biomes
Source Wikipedia: American Paddlefish

In Ecosystem

Great Lakes, Ecosystems
Source Wikipedia: American Paddlefish
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Austria

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Belarus

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Bulgaria

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China

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Czechia

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Greece

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Hungary

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North America

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Poland

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Romania

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Russia

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Serbia

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Slovakia

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Slovenia

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Ukraine

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United States

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Sources
1. Wikipedia: American Paddlefish
Wikipedia
  • Description
    The age of American paddlefish is best determined by dentary studies, a process which usually occurs on fish harvested during snagging season, a popular sport fishing activity in certain parts of the U.S.
  • Article text
    American paddlefish are also protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning international trade in the species (including parts and derivatives) is regulated.
  • Infobox: status
    VU
  • In Biome: Lake, Wikipedia intro: "ly 1900s. It commonly inhabited large, free-flowing rivers, braided channels, backwaters, and oxbow lakes throughout the Mississippi River drainage basin, and a..."
  • In Ecosystem: Great Lakes, Lead
    Its peripheral range extended into the Great Lakes, with occurrences in Lake Huron and Lake Helen in Canada until about 1917.
View the Source
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
3. American Paddlefish (Wikidata)
Wikidata
  • Wikidata Q827142 (P225 taxon name)
  • Statements section, conservation status (P141)
    IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): vulnerable.
  • Child Taxon Of: Actinopterygii, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
4. NatureServe Explorer: Polyodon spathula
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G3"
View the Source
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