Get to know american paddlefish: identifying features, habitat, food, and life cycle.
Identification & habitat
- Scientific name: Polyodon spathula; also spoonbill.
- Rostrum: The long paddle-shaped snout senses electrical signals.
- Filter system: Closely spaced gill rakers strain food.
- Teeth: Adults lack teeth.
- Skin: Almost scaleless, except a patch near the tail.
- Tail: Upper lobe larger than lower.
- Habitat: Open water of large rivers and suitable reservoirs.
- Drift: Newly hatched fish move downstream.
- Size potential: About seven feet and over 160 pounds in the guide.
Food & behavior
- Food: Tiny aquatic animals collected from the water.
- Feeding: Swims with its large mouth open.
Spawning, growth & lifespan
- Spawning: High spring water over clean gravel bars.
- Longevity: Can exceed thirty years.
Angling & the bigger picture
- Conservation: Dams can block spawning migrations; many reservoir populations need stocking.
- Missouri distinction: Official state aquatic animal.
- Lineage: Only living paddlefish species after the Chinese paddlefish's extinction.
Sources & further reading
Research checked October 18, 2026. Common sizes and ages are examples rather than hard limits. Missouri spawning dates are regional unless another location is named. Consult the current local fishing rules for the water you plan to fish.