polyodon
Polyodon is a genus of paddlefishes in the family Polyodontidae, order Acipenseriformes. The genus has one living species, Polyodon spathula, commonly known as the American paddlefish. Paddlefishes are ancient ray-finned fish characterized by a long, flat rostrum and a broad, fusiform body.
Polyodon spathula has an elongated body with a distinctive paddle-shaped rostrum that can extend over a third
The American paddlefish is native to North American river systems, especially the Mississippi River basin and
Life history and ecology: Paddlefish are long-lived and reach reproductive maturity after several years. They are
Conservation and human use: Overfishing for meat and eggs and habitat modification have reduced populations; many