Which freshwater fish is also called the Mississippi paddlefish because of its long, paddle-shaped snout?

The American paddlefish is also called the Mississippi paddlefish.

The American paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, is a large freshwater fish native to the Mississippi River basin. Its most recognizable feature is a long, flattened rostrum that resembles a paddle. The snout contains electroreceptors that help detect the tiny electrical signals produced by plankton.

Paddlefish are filter feeders. They swim with their mouths open and strain small organisms, especially zooplankton, from the water using specialized gill rakers. This feeding method differs from the ambush predation of alligator gar and the bottom feeding of many catfish.

The fish is not a shark, although its skeleton is largely made of cartilage and its body shape can appear unusual. Habitat loss, river dams, and overfishing have reduced many historical populations, making conservation important across its native range.