# Chinese paddlefish (*Psephurus gladius*)

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

The chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius) is a bony fish in the family Polyodontidae and the order Acipenseriformes. It is also called the Chinese swordfish or the Sword-billed sturgeon. The IUCN Red List global assessment lists the chinese paddlefish as Extinct (EX). Its scientific name carries the authority (Martens, 1862), and it belongs to the class Chondrostei and the genus Psephurus.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Diet | Piscivore |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | coastal, freshwater |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Migration | Migratory |
| Conservation status | Extinct (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Chondrostei
- order: Acipenseriformes
- family: Polyodontidae
- genus: Psephurus
- species: *Psephurus gladius* (Martens, 1862)

Synonyms: *Polyodon gladius*

## Common questions

### Is the chinese paddlefish extinct?

Yes. The IUCN Red List global assessment lists the chinese paddlefish as Extinct (EX).

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

The chinese paddlefish is a bony fish in the family Polyodontidae, order Acipenseriformes.

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

Its scientific name is Psephurus gladius, in the genus Psephurus.

### What other names does the chinese paddlefish have?

The chinese paddlefish is also called the Chinese swordfish and the Sword-billed sturgeon.

### Who named the chinese paddlefish and when?

The scientific name Psephurus gladius carries the authority (Martens, 1862).

### What class does the chinese paddlefish belong to?

The chinese paddlefish belongs to the class Chondrostei in the phylum Chordata.

## 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: Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/chinese-paddlefish