Chinese swordfish (Psephurus gladius)

Scientific name: Psephurus gladius Martens, 1862

Chinese swordfish (Psephurus gladius)

The Chinese swordfish (Psephurus gladius) is a freshwater fish of the family Polyodontidae. Native range: Asia, China, endemic to the Yangtze River and its tributaries. International trade restricted (CITES II, since 1.4.98; CMS Appendix II).

Biology

Head very long, snout extraordinarily long, pointed and paddle-like and base broad; mouth very large.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Psephurus gladius
Family
Polyodontidae (Paddlefishes)
Order
Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons and Paddlefishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
300
Environment
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Asia: China, endemic to the Yangtze River and its tributaries. International trade restricted (CITES II, since 1.4.98; CMS Appendix II).
Conservation status (IUCN)
Critically Endangered (CR) (A2cd;C2a(i);D)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=5-15)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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