Mississippi paddlefish
📖 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 .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 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
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 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
plankton
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Mississippi paddlefish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ 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
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🏆 World Records
| Record Type | Value | Angler | Location | Date | Line Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 65.99 kg | James Depriest | Oahe Reservoir, South Dakota | 13 Jun 2020 | ALL |
Source: IGFA All-Tackle World Records database
🌐 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 |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 38 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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