paddlefish

/pad"l fish'/, n., pl. paddlefishes, (esp. collectively) paddlefish.

a large ganoid fish, Polyodon spathula, of the Mississippi River and its larger tributaries, having a long, flat, paddlelike snout.

[1680-90, Amer.; PADDLE¹ + FISH]

* * *

Either of two species (family Polyodontidae) of archaic freshwater fishes with a paddlelike snout, wide mouth, smooth skin, and cartilaginous skeleton.

It feeds with mouth gaping open, gill rakers straining plankton from the water. The American paddlefish, or spoonbill (Polyodon spathula), is greenish or gray and averages 40 lbs (18 kg); it lives in the open waters of the Mississippi basin. The other known species (Psephurus gladius), a larger fish with a more slender snout, inhabits the Chang (Yangtze) River basin. The flesh of both species resembles catfish; the roe can be made into caviar.

* * *

▪ fish

also called  Duckbill Cat,  

      either of two species of archaic freshwater fish with a paddle-like snout, wide mouth, smooth skin, and cartilaginous skeleton. A relative of the sturgeon, the paddlefish is of the family Polyodontidae and the order Acipenseriformes. It feeds with mouth gaping open, gill rakers straining plankton from the water.

 The American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula; see photograph—>), also called spoonbill, is greenish or gray and averages about 18 kilograms (40 pounds). It lives in open waters of the Mississippi Basin. The other known species (Psephurus gladius), a larger fish with more slender snout, inhabits the Yangtse River Basin. The flesh of both species is somewhat like catfish; the roe can be made into caviar.

 

* * *