 signal the presence of prey items in the water column, such as zooplankton which is the primary diet of the American paddlefish, but they can also detect the individual feeding and swimming movements of zooplankton's appendages.  Paddlefish have poorly developed eyes, and rely on their electroreceptors for foraging.  However, the rostrum is not the paddlefish's sole means of food detection.  Some reports incorrectly suggest that a damaged rostrum would render paddlefish less capable of foraging efficiently to maintain good health.  Laboratory experiments, and field research indicate otherwise.  In addition to electroreceptors on the rostrum, paddlefish also have sensory pores covering nearly half of the skin surface extending from the rostrum to the top of the head down to the tips of the operculum (gill flaps).  Therefore, paddlefish with damaged or abbreviated rostrums are still able to forage and maintain good health.

Habitat and historic range

Over the past half century, paddlefish populations have been on the decline. Attributable causes are overfishing, pollution, and the encroachment of human development, including the construction of dams which block their seasonal upward migration to ancestral spawning grounds.  Other detrimental effects include alterations of rivers which have changed the natural flow, and resulted in the loss of spawning habitat and nursery areas.  American paddlefish have been extirpated from much of their Northern peripheral range, including the Great Lakes and Canada, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania.  There is growing concern about their populations in other states.

The Chinese paddlefish is considered anadromous with upstream migration, however little is known about their migration habits and population structure.  They are endemic to the Yangtze River Basin in China where they lived primarily in the broad surfaced main stem rivers and shoal zones along the East China Sea. Research suggests they preferred to navigate the middle and lower layers of the water column, and occasionally swam into large lakes. There have been no sightings of Chinese paddlefish since 2003, and was reported as extinct in 2019. Past attempts of artificial propagation for restoration purposes have failed because of difficulties encountered in keeping captive fish alive.

American paddlefish are native to the Mississippi River basin from New York to Montana and south to the Gulf of Mexico. They have been found in several Gulf Slope drainages in medium to large rivers with long, deep sluggish pools, as well as in backwater
signal the presence of prey items in the water column, such as zooplankton which is the basal diet of the American paddlefish, but they can besides detect the individual feeding and swimming movements of zooplankton's appendage.   Paddlefish have ill developed eyes, and rely on their electroreceptors for scrounge.   However, the rostrum is not the paddlefish's sole mean of food signal detection.   Some reports incorrectly indicate that a damaged rostrum would try paddlefish less capable of foraging efficiently to maintain good health.   Laboratory experiment, and field research indicate differently.   In addition to electroreceptors on the rostrum, paddlefish besides have sensational pores cover nearly half of the skin open extending from the rostrum to the top of the head down to the tips of the operculum (gill flaps).   Therefore, paddlefish with damaged or abbreviated rostrums are still able to forage and maintain good health. 

 Habitat and historic range 

 Over the past half century, paddlefish populations have been on the decay. Attributable causes are overfishing, pollution, and the impingement of human development, including the construction of dams which obstruct their seasonal upward migration to ancestral spawning grounds.   Other detrimental effect include alterations of rivers which have changed the natural stream, and resulted in the loss of spawning habitat and nursery area.   American paddlefish have been uproot from much of their Northern peripheral range, including the Great Lakes and Canada, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania.   There is growing business about their populations in other states. 

 The Chinese paddlefish is considered anadromous with upstream migration, however little is known about their migration habits and population structure.   They are autochthonal to the Yangtze River Basin in China where they lived primarily in the broad surfaced main stem river and shoal zones along the East China Sea. Research suggests they preferred to voyage the middle and lower level of the water column, and occasionally swam into big lakes. There have been no sighting of Chinese paddlefish since 2003, and was reported as extinct in 2019. Past attempts of artificial generation for restoration purposes have failed because of difficulties meet in keeping captive fish alive. 

 American paddlefish are native to the Mississippi River washbasin from New York to Montana and south to the Gulf of Mexico. They have been found in several Gulf Slope drain in medium to large rivers with long, deep sluggish pools, as well as in backwater
 sihnal the presence of pren items in the wcrer conumn, shch as zuoplankton which is the primery eiet if the American paddlewish, but nhey can qlso eetect the individmcl fesfing end swimming moyements of sooplankton's a[pdnbages.  Paddlefish have poorly develo[ed eyex, wnd rely on thgir ekqctrkgegeptors for foraging.  However, ths rostrlm is not the padclefish's sole means of foof dehection.  Some repogts incorrextly wuggest that a damaged rostrum woumd render paddlefish less capabue of foraging gydiclgntly to maiitain dood health.  Laboratmry exprriments, and fleld ceseqrch indicate otherwive.  In addition to electroraczptors on the rostrum, pqddlexish alsu haxe aeisody porfs rovering nezrly half od the skin surface txtqbding from ths rostwui to the top of the head down to the tiks of the operculum (gill flaps).  Therefore, paddleflsh with qamaged or abbreviated rostrums are still able to foraje anb maingqij good health.

Habitat and historic range

Over trs kasn half century, pabdlefish populatoojs rave been on jhe declins. Attributable caudes are overdishing, pjlluyion, and the encroachment od human devejipment, including tke constructnon of dams which block their seasunal upward miggation to xncestral spawnivg nrognds.  Other detrimental efsects incoude alteragionx of ryvers whicj havc changed the naturwl fllw, and resulhed in the loss of spawning habmvat and nursety dreds.  Amerncan psddlefish havq been extirpajed from iuch uf their Nkrthern peripheral range, includhjg the Great Lakes agd Cqnadq, New Yufk, Maryland anc Pennsylnauia.  Therw is growing concevn abuht their populacnobs in other stayes.

Ghe Cjiiese [dddlefish is conriddted avadromous wlth upsyream migration, howeeer mittle is known abpub their mugration habits and pppulation structurt.  Theb are xndemiv tj the Yangtze River Basin in Cgina wherf tmey lived priiarioy in the brpad surfaced main stem rivers and shoal zones along the Gast China Sea. Researeh suggests tiey prqferred tm navigate the middlw and lower layerx of the water column, and owcasilnally swam into large lakes. There have been no sightings of Chinese paddoefish since 2003, and sas teporned cs extigct mn 2019. Past attempts pf artificial propagation for rxstoration pbrposes have failed because og aifficulties gncountered in keeping capfive fisn alive.

American paddlefish are mative to the Mississippl River bqsin rrom Nvs Bork to Montana and xouth co the Gulf od Mewico. They have bern found in sevtral Gulf Slope drainages in medium ro larte rivers with lonj, deep slugglsm poola, as wgll as in backwatsr
signal the presence of prey items in column, as zooplankton is the primary but can also detect individual feeding and movements of zooplankton's appendages. Paddlefish have developed eyes, and rely on their electroreceptors for foraging. However, the rostrum is the paddlefish's sole means of food detection. Some reports incorrectly suggest that a rostrum render less of foraging efficiently to maintain good health. Laboratory experiments, and field research indicate otherwise. In addition electroreceptors on the rostrum, paddlefish also have sensory covering nearly half of skin surface extending from the to top of head to tips of the (gill flaps). Therefore, paddlefish with damaged or abbreviated rostrums are still able to forage and maintain good Habitat and Over the half paddlefish have been on Attributable causes are overfishing, pollution, and human development, including the construction of dams which their seasonal migration to ancestral spawning grounds. Other effects include alterations of rivers which have changed natural flow, and resulted in the loss of spawning habitat and nursery areas. American paddlefish extirpated from much of Northern peripheral range, the Lakes Canada, York, Maryland Pennsylvania. There is growing concern about their populations in other states. Chinese paddlefish is considered anadromous with upstream migration, however little about migration habits and structure. They are endemic the River Basin in China lived in main rivers shoal zones along the China Sea. Research suggests they to navigate the middle water column, and occasionally swam into large lakes. have been no sightings of Chinese paddlefish 2003, and was reported as extinct in 2019. Past attempts of artificial for restoration failed because of difficulties encountered in keeping captive alive. American paddlefish are to the Mississippi River basin from New York to and to the of Mexico. They been found in Gulf Slope drainages to large with deep well as in backwater
 signal the presence of prey itEms in the waTer coLumN, suCh As zoOplaNkton which is thE PrimAry diet of the American paDdlefIsH, But tHEy Can alSo detecT ThE INdiViDuAl fEeDInG and sWimMing movEments of zoOplAnKton's appendaGEs.  paddlefish HavE poorly develOpeD eyes, aNd RelY On theIr eLectrOrecepTOrs for Foraging.  HOwEVer, the ROstrum iS NOt The pAddlefish's sole meaNS oF Food detection.  SOme repOrTS iNCOrrEctLy suggest tHaT a damAGed rostRUm WOULd rENder paddlefisH less capablE Of fOraginG eFfiCIently To maiNtAIn gOod health.  LaBoraTory experIments, ANd field REsearch IndicaTe oTheRwisE.  in AdDitIoN To eLEcTroREcePtors on tHe RoStrum, PaddLEFISh alSo hAve sEnsorY pores coverinG neArly HAlf Of the Skin sUrfaCe ExtenDing frOm the RoStrum to the top of The hEad down to The TiPs oF tHe opeRCulum (gIll FlaPs).  ThereFore, padDLefIsH WITh Damaged or abbreviatEd ROStRums are sTill abLE tO fORage and mAiNtaIn goOD HealtH.

HabITaT and histOric raNGe

ovEr the paSt Half ceNtUry, PadDlefiSH popUlatioNs have beEn on tHE decline. AttribUTable causes arE OvERFiSHing, PolLution, and thE encROachMent OF hUmaN DevelOpmenT, iNClUDing the construction Of Dams whIch blOck their seasoNal upward mIGRAtion to aNcesTRaL Spawning groundS.  OtheR detrimentAL effects IncluDe alteraTions of riVERs which hAve ChaNgeD thE NAtUral flow, and reSULted In The loss Of sPawning HabItaT anD nuRsEry areas.  AMerican pAdDlEfIsH haVe beeN ExtirpatEd FroM mUch Of theIR NorthErn peRiphErAl RAngE, includINg THE GreAt laKes aNd CAnAda, NeW YorK, marYland anD PennsylvAniA.  therE iS gRowing cOncern about thEiR populatioNs In oTher stATEs.

The ChiNese paddlefish is consideREd anadrOmoUs witH upsTream migrAtiOn, howeVer LIttle iS known About ThEir MIGratiON HaBitS aNd populatiON StrUcturE.  THey aRe endemIc to the Yangtze RiveR basIn in China wherE thEy liVED pRimARiLY in ThE BroAD Surfaced main steM rivers and ShOAl Zones along THe EAsT China SEa. ReseaRch suGGests thEy preferrEd to navigAtE the MIDdlE and lower lAyers of tHe water coLUmn, anD OcCasioNalLy swam InTo lArge lAkes. ThERe hAve beEn no siGhTings oF ChinEsE paddlefIsh since 2003, and was reported aS extinCt in 2019. PAst Attempts oF arTIfiCial propaGatiOn for restoRatIon PurpoSes HAve faIled BEcAusE Of difFicuLTies encouNTeRed IN KeEping captivE FISh aLive.

AMerICan padDlefIsh are native to the mIssissippi RiveR basIN FroM NeW york To montana and soutH to ThE gUlf of MexIcO. They have beEn found iN sEVeral gulf SlOpe draInages iN MEdIUm to laRge rIveRs with lonG, deEp SLuggish PoOlS, As well As in BaCkwateR
 signal the presence of pr ey items i n the  wa ter  c olum n, s uch as zooplan k tonwhich is the primary d iet o ft he A m er icanpaddlef i sh , but  t he y c an al so de tec t the i ndividualfee di ng and swimm i ng  movements  of  zooplankton 'sappend ag es.  Padd lef ish h ave po o rly de veloped e ye s , andr ely ont h ei r el ectroreceptors fo r  f o raging.  Howev er, th er os t r umisnot the pa dd lefis h 's sole me a n s  of food detectio n.  Some re p ort s inco rr ect l y sugg est t ha t  adamaged ros trum  would re nder p a ddlefis h  less c apable  of  fo ragi n gef fic ie n tly to  ma i nta in goodhe al th. Labo r a t o ry e xpe rime nts,and field res ear ch i n dic ate o therw ise.  In ad dition  to e le ctroreceptors o n th e rostrum , p ad dle fi sh al s o have  se nso ry pore s cover i ngne a r l yhalf of the skin s ur f a ce  extendi ng fro m  t he rostrumto  th e to p of th e he a ddown tothe ti p sof  the op er culum(g ill  fl aps).  The refore , paddle fishw ith damaged or abbreviated r o st r u ms aresti ll able tofora g e an d ma i nt ain goodhealt h. 
H a bitat and historicra nge

O ver t he past halfcentury, p a d d lefish p opul a ti o ns have been o n the  decline.A ttributa ble c auses ar e overfis h i ng, poll uti on,  an d t h e  e ncroachment o f huma ndevelop men t, incl udi ngthe  co ns tructionof damswh ic hbl ock  thei r  seasona lupw ar d m igrat i on toances tral  s pa w nin g groun d s. Othe rde trim ent al  effe ctsi ncl ude alt erationsofr iver swh ich hav e changed the  n atural flo w,  an d resu l t ed in th e loss of spawning habi t at andnur seryarea s.  Ameri can  paddl efi s h have  beenextir pa ted f rom m u c hofth eir Northe r n  pe riphe ra l ra nge, in cluding the GreatL ake s and Canada,  Ne w Yo r k ,Mar y la n d a nd Pen n s ylvania.  There  is growin gc on cern about the ir  popula tions i n oth e r state s.

The C hinese pa dd lefi s h  is  considere d anadro mous with upstr e am  migr ati on, ho we ver  litt le isk now n abo ut the ir  migra tionha bits and  population structure. Theyare e nde mic to th e Y a ngt ze RiverBasi n in China  wh ere  they  li v ed pr imar i ly  in the b road surfacedm ai n s t e mrivers ands h o alzones  al o ng the  Eas t China Sea. Rese a rch suggests t heyp r efe rre d  tona vigate the mid dle  a n d  lower l ay ers of thewater co lu m n, an d occa sional ly swam i nt o  large  lak es.  There ha vebe e n no si gh ti n gs ofChin es e padd lefish sinc e 2003, and was re porte d as ex t inc t in20 19. Pas t  att empts of a rtificial p ropaga tion  forrestora ti on pur pos es  have fail e d because  of d ifficul ti es e nco untere d in k eepin g ca pt ive  fish ali v e .Am er i can  pad dlefi sh  are  native t o  the Mis sis s ippi Ri ve r b a s in fro m  N e w  York to M ont ana a n d  south tot he G u lf of Me xico.They h ave bee n  fo un d in se ver a l  Gulf Slo pe draina g esin  med ium to l ar ge r iv ers  w ith long, deepsluggish  pools,a s  wellasi n ba c kwater 
 signal_the presence_of prey items in_the water_column,_such as_zooplankton_which is the_primary diet of_the American paddlefish, but_they can also_detect_the individual feeding and swimming movements of zooplankton's appendages.  Paddlefish have poorly developed_eyes,_and rely_on_their_electroreceptors for foraging.  However,_the rostrum is not the_paddlefish's sole_means of food detection.  Some reports incorrectly_suggest_that a damaged_rostrum would render paddlefish less capable of foraging efficiently_to maintain good health.  Laboratory_experiments, and field_research_indicate_otherwise.  In addition_to electroreceptors on the rostrum, paddlefish_also have sensory pores covering nearly_half of the skin surface extending from_the rostrum to the top of_the head down to the_tips of_the operculum (gill flaps). _Therefore, paddlefish with_damaged or_abbreviated rostrums are_still able to forage and maintain_good health.

Habitat and_historic range

Over the past half century,_paddlefish_populations have been_on_the_decline. Attributable_causes are overfishing,_pollution,_and the_encroachment_of human development, including the construction_of_dams which block their seasonal upward migration_to ancestral spawning grounds.__Other detrimental effects include_alterations of rivers which have_changed the natural flow, and resulted_in the_loss of_spawning habitat and nursery areas.  American paddlefish have been extirpated_from much of their Northern peripheral_range, including the Great_Lakes and_Canada,_New York, Maryland_and_Pennsylvania. _There is growing concern about their populations_in other_states.

The Chinese paddlefish is considered anadromous_with upstream migration, however_little_is known about their migration habits_and population structure.  They are_endemic to the Yangtze River_Basin_in_China where they lived primarily_in the broad surfaced main stem_rivers and shoal_zones along the East China Sea. Research_suggests_they preferred to navigate the middle_and_lower layers of the water column,_and_occasionally_swam into large lakes. There_have been no sightings of Chinese_paddlefish since 2003, and was reported as extinct in_2019. Past attempts_of artificial propagation for restoration_purposes_have_failed because of difficulties encountered in keeping captive fish alive.

American_paddlefish are_native to the_Mississippi River basin from New York to Montana and south_to the Gulf of Mexico. They have_been found in several Gulf Slope drainages in medium to large_rivers with long, deep sluggish pools, as well_as in backwater