Paddlefish (family Polyodontidae) are primitive Chondrostean ray-finned fishes. The paddlefish can be distinguished by its large mouth and its elongated snout called a rostrum (bill). These spatula-like snouts comprise half the length of their entire body. There are only two extant species of these fish: the Chinese and the American paddlefish. The American species is Missouri's State Aquatic Animal.
These fish are not closely related to sharks, but they do have some body parts that resemble those of sharks such as their skeletons, primarily composed of cartilage, and deeply forked heterocercal tail fins.
In some areas, paddlefish are referred to as "Spoonbill", "Spoonies" or "Spoonbill Catfish".
Paddlefish are also extremely oily. Mounted specimens occasionally leak an oily substance.
