Sherpa Guides > Virginia Mountains > Paddlefish

Paddlefish

Perhaps the strangest looking critter on the Powell's threatened list is the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula). The blue-gray to olive-gray fish grows to a length of 44 to 64 inches, and gets its name from a long, paddle-shaped snout. The paddlefish depends on clean gravel and clean water for spawning. It feeds by straining plankton and aquatic insects through its gills.

[ Previous Topic | Next Topic ]


Read and add comments about this page


Reader-Contributed Links to the Virginia Mountains Book: