# American paddlefish (*Polyodon spathula*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/american-paddlefish  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is a bony fish in the family Polyodontidae and the order Acipenseriformes. On the IUCN Red List it is assessed globally as Vulnerable (VU), which is a threatened category. Other English names for this fish include Duckbill, Spadefish, Spoonbill, Paddlefish and Duckbill cat. Its scientific name carries the authority (Walbaum, 1792), and it belongs to the genus Polyodon in the class Chondrostei.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater, riverine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Chondrostei
- order: Acipenseriformes
- family: Polyodontidae
- genus: Polyodon
- species: *Polyodon spathula* (Walbaum, 1792)

Synonyms: *Squalus spathula*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the American paddlefish?

The American paddlefish is a bony fish. It belongs to the family Polyodontidae in the order Acipenseriformes.

### What is the scientific name of the American paddlefish?

Its scientific name is Polyodon spathula, in the genus Polyodon.

### Is the American paddlefish endangered?

The American paddlefish is listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List in a global assessment. Vulnerable is an IUCN threatened category.

### What are other names for the American paddlefish?

Other English names for it are Duckbill, Spadefish, Spoonbill, Paddlefish and Duckbill cat.

### What family does the American paddlefish belong to?

It belongs to the family Polyodontidae, within the class Chondrostei.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/american-paddlefish