Welcome! Join me as I
explore
Polyodon spathula!
Let's warm up with some quick FAQ for starters.
What is Polyodon spathula?
Polyodon spathula is a freshwater fish that can be found in the Mississippi drainage, from the Missouri River in Montana and southward that is at risk of extinction.
Are there any common names that are used when talking about this particular species?
Yes, Polyodon spathula is
also known as the American Paddlefish and synonymous with spoonbill,
spoonbill cat, spoonbill catfish, Mississippi Paddlefish, spadefish,
shovel-billed cat, duck-billed cat, shovelfish, and just plain Paddlefish.
***For simplicity's sake and to decrease the chances of confusion with all
these names for this organism, this web page will only utilize the three
terms Polyodon spathula, American Paddlefish, and Paddlefish
interchangeably when speaking about this organism.
How does an American Paddlefish look like?
A typical American Paddlefish has a large, gray scale-less body, a snout that protrudes into a large paddle-shaped structure, a shark-like forked tail, and gills that extend into long, pointed flaps. Very much like Figure 1 below.
Why should you care about
Polyodon spathula?
Polyodon spathula is found only in the United
States now since it has been declared extirpated in Canada. However,
Polyodon spathula is very quickly becoming extinct in the
United States also like the only other member of the Polyodontidae
Family, the Chinese Paddlefish.
How is Polyodon spathula classified?
To find out the answer, let's start our exploration with
the
Classification of Polyodon spathula!
Visit
MultipleOrganisms.net to explore more organisms!
Visit the
University of Wisconsin La Crosse, birthplace of the Multiple Organisms
web pages!