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💧 Freshwater Vulnerable 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Subtropical

Mississippi paddlefish

Polyodon spathula Walbaum, 1792
Max Length
221 cm
Max Weight
90.7 kg
Lifespan
55 yrs
Trophic Level
3.1
Depth
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
85.00/100

📖 Overview

Adukts usually inhabit water deeper than 1.2 m in slow-flowing large rivers, lakes, and impoundments . They feed on plankton. The extended upper jaw (= paddle) may help to channel plankton into the mouth. Threatened due to over harvesting, habitat loss and pollution .

Scientific Name
Polyodon spathula
Authority
Walbaum, 1792
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
VU
Max Length
221 cm
Max Weight
90.7 kg
Lifespan
55 years
Trophic Level
3.1
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
85.00/100
Migration
Potamodromous
Water Temp
10–18 °C
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Snout long, canoe-paddle-shaped; gill cover with large, fleshy, pointed flap .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Mississippi paddlefish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Mississippi paddlefish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Mississippi paddlefish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous ; depth range 2 - ? m. Subtropical; 10°C - 18°C ; 49°N - 29°N, 112°W - 77°W 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.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Potamodromous
Trophic Level
3.1
Food Items

plankton

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00646 × L3.09 (TL)
Max TL
221cm
Max Weight
90,700g

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
10–18°C
Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Vulnerable
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
85.00/100
Very High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.1
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Walbaum, 1792

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.1 g
Omega-3 (total) 356 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Mississippi paddlefish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English American paddlefish · Duckbill · Duckbill Cat · Mississippi Paddlefish · Paddlefish · Spadefish · Spoonbill · Spoonbill Cat · Spoonbill catfish · Spoonbillcatfish
🇸🇦Arabic السمكة الأميريكية ذات المجداف · سمك المجداف الأميريكي
🌍CES veslonos americký
🇩🇰Danish Amerikansk spadestør · Skestør
🇩🇪German Löffelstör · Paddelfisch
🌍ELL Polyodontas · Πολυόδοντας
🌍EPO Poliodono
🌍EST Luitstuur
🇫🇮Finnish Lapasampi
🇫🇷French Poisson Spatule · Spatulaire · Spatule d'Amérique
🇭🇺Hungarian Lapátorrú tok
🇮🇹Italian Pesce spatola
🇯🇵Japanese ヘラチョウザメ
🌍KAZ Ескектұмсық
🇳🇱Dutch Amerikaanse lepelsteur · Lepelsteur
🌍NOB Skjestør
🇳🇴Norwegian Skjestør
🇵🇱Polish Wioslonos amerykanski · wiosłonos amerykański
🇵🇹Portuguese Peixe-espatula
🇷🇺Russian Веслонос · многозуб · полиодон
🌍SLV Ameriški veslokljun
🇪🇸Spanish Pez espátula · Pez espátula americano · Sollo
🇸🇪Swedish Skedstör
🌍THA ปลาฉลามปากเป็ด
🌍UKR Веслоніс американський · Веслоніс північноамериканський
🇨🇳Chinese 匙吻鱘

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Squalus spathula Walbaum 1792 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 38 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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View all observations for Mississippi paddlefish ↗
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