Here’s a Paddlefish youngster, probably about a year old (caught & released during @garlab.bsky.social fieldwork). Their bodies are primarily cartilage; coupled with their filter-feeding they’re basically freshwater Basking Sharks! - ThreadSky

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solomonrdavid.bsky.social • 97 days ago

Here’s a Paddlefish youngster, probably about a year old (caught & released during @garlab.bsky.social fieldwork).

Their bodies are primarily cartilage; coupled with their filter-feeding they’re basically freshwater Basking Sharks!

Comments

meredithnudo.bsky.social•97 days ago

Paddlefish are so cool! What a lucky catch!

car-critter.bsky.social•97 days ago

The fact that they're (superficially) like basking sharks is my new favorite thing

judarg.bsky.social•97 days ago

Amid all the anger and fear and sadness I feel at the terrifying events of the last few months, your posts always make me feel better. ❤️

akgrl33.bsky.social•97 days ago

I know we love the gar but there is a special place in my heart for this big weirdos. Especially when they are eating.

lauowolf.bsky.social•96 days ago

That is one glorious weirdo fish!

isaac-k-fox.bsky.social•96 days ago

The positioning of its eye is so strange

whogivesashirt.bsky.social•97 days ago

A mini basking shark that brought its own cutlery!

axeeugene.bsky.social•97 days ago

How common are they, really? I've never managed to see one in the wild.

solomonrdavid.bsky.social•97 days ago

What’s your locality, and where are you looking? Certainly more common in some places than others (e.g. Oklahoma vs Minnesota), but also highly depends on gear type. They aren’t often caught in typical hook and line (relative to game fish), and they prefer more turbid water, so they’re hard to see.

axeeugene.bsky.social•96 days ago

I wondered if that was the case re: habitat. I'm on the St. Croix.

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