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Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Fish · family Polyodontidae · order Acipenseriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G3: vulnerable[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G3 Vulnerable[2]
Native in
22 states[3]
Longest recorded life
55 years[4]

The paddlefish is a fish in the family Polyodontidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G3, Vulnerable, worldwide, and lists it as native in 22 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the paddlefish a global rank of G3, which it labels Vulnerable[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N4, Apparently Secure[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[7]. The paddlefish is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on CITES Appendix II, which means international trade is controlled[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G3 (Vulnerable)
NatureServe US rank[6] N4 (Apparently Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Vulnerable
CITES (international trade)[8] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 10,000 to 1,000,000 individuals

Where Paddlefish lives

NatureServe lists the paddlefish as native in 22 US states and territories[3]. These are Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia[3]. NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated, meaning gone or possibly gone, in Michigan, North Carolina, New York and Pennsylvania[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: native, state rank S2WIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: native, state rank S3MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank S2MNIllinois: native, state rank S1ILMichigan: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXMINew York: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S4SDIowa: native, state rank S3IAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S2OHPennsylvania: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: native, state rank S3NEMissouri: native, state rank S3MOKentucky: native, state rank S4KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S1WVVirginia: native, state rank S1VAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S3KSArkansas: native, state rank S3ARTennessee: native, state rank S3TNNorth Carolina: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank S2OKLouisiana: native, state rank S4LAMississippi: native, state rank S3MSAlabama: native, state rank S3ALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S3TXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (26 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS3Vulnerable
ArkansasS3Vulnerable
IllinoisS1Critically Imperiled
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS3Vulnerable
KansasS3Vulnerable
KentuckyS4Apparently Secure
LouisianaS4Apparently Secure
MichiganSXPresumed Extirpated
MinnesotaS2Imperiled
MississippiS3Vulnerable
MissouriS3Vulnerable
MontanaS3Vulnerable
NebraskaS3Vulnerable
New YorkSXPresumed Extirpated
North CarolinaSXPresumed Extirpated
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioS2Imperiled
OklahomaS2Imperiled
PennsylvaniaSXPresumed Extirpated
South DakotaS4Apparently Secure
TennesseeS3Vulnerable
TexasS3Vulnerable
VirginiaS1Critically Imperiled
West VirginiaS1Critically Imperiled
WisconsinS2Imperiled

Habitat

NatureServe records big rivers and medium rivers as habitat, with both moderate and low gradient flow and with deep and shallow water[12]. The notes describe slow-flowing water in large and medium-sized rivers, plus backwaters, channels and some impoundments[13]. In the colder months it moves to deeper water[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

The paddlefish eats mainly zooplankton, which are tiny animals it filters from the water[14]. It sometimes also eats invertebrates near the bottom and some fishes[14]. NatureServe records its typical length as 150 cm (59 in)[15]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 55 years[4]. Females reach sexual maturity at 3,285 days of age[16].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 150 cm (59 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 55 years (wild)
Female maturity[16] 3,285 days (about 9.0 years)
Food habits[17] Invertivore
Migration[18] local migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe calls the paddlefish a local migrant, and populations can differ[18]. Observation records on GBIF are made in every month of the year[19]. Most fall in April, June and July[19]. These records show when people look and report, not how many fish there are[19].

January: 16 recordsJanFebruary: 26 recordsFebMarch: 60 recordsMarApril: 91 recordsAprMay: 67 recordsMayJune: 73 recordsJunJuly: 73 recordsJulAugust: 68 recordsAugSeptember: 64 recordsSepOctober: 51 recordsOctNovember: 40 recordsNovDecember: 30 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[19].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January16
February26
March60
April91
May67
June73
July73
August68
September64
October51
November40
December30

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Illinois[20]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the paddlefish endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G3, Vulnerable, worldwide[2].
Where does the paddlefish live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 22 US states and territories, including Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas[3]. It is ranked as extirpated or possibly extirpated in Michigan, North Carolina, New York and Pennsylvania[10].
What does the paddlefish eat?
It eats mainly zooplankton filtered from the water[14]. It sometimes also eats invertebrates near the bottom and fishes[14].
How big is a paddlefish?
NatureServe records a typical length of 150 cm (59 in)[15].
How long does a paddlefish live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 55 years[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Paddlefish is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Paddlefish: G3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Paddlefish as native in 22 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 55 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is a fish in the family Polyodontidae, order Acipenseriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  8. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to 1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe ranks Paddlefish as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Paddlefish (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Paddlefish: Big river, Medium river, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Deep water, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Paddlefish. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Paddlefish. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 150 cm (59 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 3,285 days (about 9.0 years). AnAge
  17. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe migration category for Paddlefish: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  19. GBIF observation records of Paddlefish in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  20. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Paddlefish: Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Illinois. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.