Animal Spotlight
Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
Last Man Standing
Paddlefish have a shark-like body, deeply forked tail, and a long, flat, blade-like snout that makes up almost a third of their entire length. Interestingly, these scaleless, cartilaginous fish are an ancient species, dating back at least 200 million years.
The only member of its family left on the planet, paddlefish can grow to be up to 7 feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds. Also referred to as a spoonbill, spoonbill cat, or shovelnose cat, they feed by swimming through the water with their mouths wide open, using gill rakers to scoop up and strain plankton.
Habitat
A variety of murky habitats, including rivers, lakes, and ponds in slow-moving water with plenty of cover throughout the Mississippi River Basin
Diet
Plankton
Predators
American alligators
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Phylum
Chordata
Meet the Neighbors
Paddlefish share their home in the MORPH’D gallery with an array of other species from the popular electric eel to intriguing mudskippers, and the colorful poison dart frogs.
Cherry Shrimp
Tiny social decapods with a knack for recycling and the ability to look good doing it.
Poison Dart Frog
Bright, bold, and toxic, poison dart frogs use a little bit of color to make a big statement.
Electric Eel
With a long, snake-like body, electric eels are not considered true eels.
Mudskipper
Wonderful with some wild moves, these fish out of water are evolutionary wonders.
Ready to Visit?
From the colorful to the camouflaged, the slightly slimy to the super smooth, each animal in MORPH’D presented by PAR® tells a story of survival.