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What the sources say

American PaddlefishPolyodon spathula

Every figure, record and mechanism on the American Paddlefish profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 47 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Moore & Rider 2022

Moore & Rider (2022). Polyodon spathula. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T17938A81763841.

The page saysVulnerable
The source saysVulnerable (VU)Note: read as the assessment's category through GBIF's copy of the Red List, per docs/fact-check.md; the assessment's own text was not otherwise readable (iucnredlist.org refuses scripts)
The page saysThe IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable.
The source saysVulnerable (VU)Note: read as the assessment's category through GBIF's copy of the Red List

Source
02

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15 2023

AnAge entry for Polyodon spathula. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, 2023.

The page saysweightKg: 50
The source saysAdult weight 49,885 gNote: battleStats.weightKg, AnAge average adult weight rounded; ADW's 18 to 70 kg adult range is Medium class throughout

Source
03

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The page saysLarge rivers and lakes of the Mississippi River basin
The source saysMississippi River basin from southwestern New York to central Montana and south to Louisiana; Gulf Slope drainages from Mobile Bay, Alabama, to Galveston Bay, Texas.
The page sayscan grow up to seven feet long
The source saysPaddlefish can grow up to 7 feet long.
The page saysweigh almost 200 pounds
The source saysPaddlefish can weigh almost 200 pounds.
The page saysa flattened snout, or rostrum, that reaches up to a third of its total body length
The source saysthe presence of a large, paddle-shaped rostrum (up to 1/3 total body length) on the snout anterior to the mouth
The page saysIt ranges across the Mississippi River basin, from southwestern New York to central Montana and south to Louisiana, plus Gulf Slope drainages from Mobile Bay, Alabama, to Galveston Bay, Texas.
The source saysMississippi River basin from southwestern New York to central Montana and south to Louisiana; Gulf Slope drainages from Mobile Bay, Alabama, to Galveston Bay, Texas.
The page saysthe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes reports of some specimens living 50 years or longer
The source saysSome reports say some specimens have lived for 50 years or longer.

Source
04

Missouri Department of Conservation, Field Guide

Paddlefish. Missouri Department of Conservation, Field Guide.

The page saysTiny crustaceans and insects, collected from the water in closely set gill rakers
The source saysPaddlefish swim slowly through water with their mouths wide open, collecting tiny crustaceans and insects in their elaborate, closely set gill rakers.
The page saysThe fish swims slowly with its mouth wide open, collecting tiny crustaceans and insects in closely set gill rakers
The source saysPaddlefish swim slowly through water with their mouths wide open, collecting tiny crustaceans and insects in their elaborate, closely set gill rakers.
The page saysThe Last of an Ancient Line
The source saysThe paddlefish is the only member of its family left on planet Earth.Note: heading
The page saysIts family, the Polyodontidae, goes back to the Early Cretaceous, 120 to 125 million years ago.
The source saysThe Polyodontidae family of fish goes back to the Early Cretaceous, 120 to 125 million years ago, about the same time that flowering plants (angiosperms) appeared on Earth.
The page saysThe American paddlefish is the only member of its family left.
The source saysThe paddlefish is the only member of its family left on planet Earth.
The page saysMissouri's conservation department says paddlefish can live to be 30 years old or more
The source saysPaddlefish can live to be 30 years old or more.
The page saysdams that stop them moving upstream to spawning grounds
The source saysDams prevent paddlefish from being able to move upstream to their spawning territories, which prevents them from reproducing on their own.
The page saysin regions with large infestations of invasive zebra mussels those mussels filter out plankton that would otherwise feed paddlefish
The source saysIn regions with large infestations of the invasive zebra mussel, those mussels filter significant amounts of plankton out of the water, plankton that would otherwise feed native paddlefish.
The page saysa fish that swims slowly with its mouth wide open
The source saysPaddlefish swim slowly through water with their mouths wide open, collecting tiny crustaceans and insects in their elaborate, closely set gill rakers.Note: vibe.reason

Source
05

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Polyodon spathula (American paddlefish). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysPaddlefish generally live in large rivers with deep, slow-moving, muddy water
The source saysThey generally reside in large rivers with deep water (greater than 6 meters) and slow moving currents (less than 5 cm/s) (Zigler, 2003; Southall, 1984). Turbid (muddy) water is preferred by P. spathula .Note: habitat description from an old ADW page, which docs/fact-check.md allows for size, range and diet/habitat; not a record, count or duration
The page saysSwarms of Daphnia, the tiny water fleas paddlefish eat
The source saysExamples of animals in the P. spathula diet are copepods, cladocerans such Daphnia pulex , and ephemeropteran nymphs (Hoxmeier, 1997).

Source
06

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Field Guide

Paddlefish. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Field Guide.

The page saysLarge rivers and lakes of the Mississippi River basin, most often in deep, low-current side channels, backwater lakes and tailwaters below dams
The source saysAmerican paddlefish are well adapted to living in rivers and lakes. They inhabit many types of habitats and occur most frequently in deeper, low current areas such as side channels, backwater lakes and tailwaters below dams.
The page saysthe toothbrush-like bristles in its gills
The source saysPaddlefish have wide gaping mouths and toothbrush-like bristles in their gills.
The page saysPaddlefish were once very abundant and have declined in numbers. Threats include
The source saysPaddlefish were once very abundant throughout their range, but have declined in numbers. Threats to paddlefish include
The page saysillegal harvest of adults for caviar
The source saysIllegal harvest of adult paddlefish for caviar

Source
07

Russell, Wilkens & Moss 1999

Russell, Wilkens & Moss (1999). Use of behavioural stochastic resonance by paddle fish for feeding. Nature.

The page saysHunting by Electric Signal
The source sayspaddlefish (Polyodon spathula), which use passive electroreceptors to detect electrical signals from planktonic preyNote: heading: the fish senses electric signals, it does not emit any
The page saysthey feed with passive electroreceptors on the paddle: the organs detect the electrical signals given off by planktonic prey instead of producing a current of their own.
The source saysstochastic resonance enhances the normal feeding behaviour of paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), which use passive electroreceptors to detect electrical signals from planktonic preyNote: "instead of producing a current of their own" glosses "passive" for the reader
The page saysStatic widens the search
The source saysWe demonstrate significant broadening of the spatial range for the detection of plankton when a noisy electric field of optimal amplitude is applied in the water.Note: blockquote lead
The page saysare a natural source of electrical noise, and adding a noise field of the right strength to the water broadens the range over which paddlefish detect plankton.
The source saysWe demonstrate significant broadening of the spatial range for the detection of plankton when a noisy electric field of optimal amplitude is applied in the water. We also show that swarms of Daphnia plankton are a natural source of electrical noise.Note: "of the right strength" keeps the source's "of optimal amplitude"
The page sayswhich are passive electroreceptors: they pick up the electrical signals given off by planktonic prey instead of producing a current of their own.
The source sayspaddlefish (Polyodon spathula), which use passive electroreceptors to detect electrical signals from planktonic preyNote: faq 1

Source
08

Modrell et al. 2011

Modrell et al. (2011). Electrosensory ampullary organs are derived from lateral line placodes in bony fishes. Nature Communications.

The page saysAn ancient river giant that carries 50,000 to 70,000 electroreceptor organs, the largest number of any living vertebrate species.
The source saysThe North American paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, is a basal actinopterygian fish with easily the largest number of ampullary organs of any living vertebrate species: 50,000–70,000 ampullae per adult.
The page says50,000 to 70,000 electroreceptors per adult, the largest number of any living vertebrate species
The source sayseasily the largest number of ampullary organs of any living vertebrate species: 50,000–70,000 ampullae per adultNote: stats.superpower, same figure as the tagline
The page saysPaddle and head covered in ampullary organs
The source saysAmpullary organs are confined to the head, and most numerous on the rostrum and opercular flap.Note: the count is per adult, not per rostrum: the organs sit on the head, the rostrum (paddle) carrying most of them
The page saysA Paddle Built Like an Antenna
The source saysThe characteristic rostrum, or paddle (an extension of the cranium), is covered in ampullary organs and is used as an electrosensory 'antenna' for feedingNote: heading: the source's own word for the rostrum
The page saysThe paddle is used as an electrosensory antenna, covered in ampullary organs
The source saysThe characteristic rostrum, or paddle (an extension of the cranium), is covered in ampullary organs and is used as an electrosensory 'antenna' for feeding
The page saysthe sense organs that pick up weak electric fields in the water
The source saysThe mechanosensory and electrosensory divisions of the lateral line system enable fishes and amphibians to detect changes in local water flow and weak electric fields, respectively ... Electrosensory hair cells are collected in ampullary organsNote: definition of ampullary organs at first use
The page saysAn adult carries between 50,000 and 70,000 of them, the largest number of any living vertebrate species.
The source sayseasily the largest number of ampullary organs of any living vertebrate species: 50,000–70,000 ampullae per adult
The page saysThey are confined to the head, and most numerous on the paddle and the flap that covers the gills.
The source saysAmpullary organs are confined to the head, and most numerous on the rostrum and opercular flap.Note: "paddle" and "the flap that covers the gills" for the source's "rostrum" and "opercular flap"
The page saysIt works as an electrosensory antenna. The paddle is covered in ampullary organs
The source saysThe characteristic rostrum, or paddle (an extension of the cranium), is covered in ampullary organs and is used as an electrosensory 'antenna' for feedingNote: faq 1
The page saysBetween 50,000 and 70,000 ampullary organs per adult, the largest number of any living vertebrate species.
The source sayseasily the largest number of ampullary organs of any living vertebrate species: 50,000–70,000 ampullae per adultNote: faq 2
The page saysThey are confined to the head, and most numerous on the paddle and the flap that covers the gills.
The source saysAmpullary organs are confined to the head, and most numerous on the rostrum and opercular flap.Note: faq 2, same sentence as the body
The page saysits paddle works as an electrosensory antenna for finding plankton
The source saysThe paddlefish rostrum functions as an electrosensory antenna in plankton feeding.Note: vibe.reason; the paddle is the rostrum

Source
09

Smith et al. 2015

Smith et al. (2015). Making teeth to order: conserved genes reveal an ancient molecular pattern in paddlefish (Actinopterygii). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The page saysTeeth are present and working in young paddlefish, and completely absent in adults, which filter-feed instead.
The source saysAlthough teeth are present and functional in young individuals of Polyodon, they are completely absent in adults ... initial conservation, followed by tooth loss, accommodating the adult trophic modification to filter-feeding
The page saysTeeth are present and working in young paddlefish, and completely absent in adults. Adults filter-feed instead, straining tiny animals out of the water.
The source saysAlthough teeth are present and functional in young individuals of Polyodon, they are completely absent in adults ... initial conservation, followed by tooth loss, accommodating the adult trophic modification to filter-feedingNote: faq 3

Source
10

Zhang et al. 2020

Zhang et al. (2020). Extinction of one of the world's largest freshwater fishes: Lessons for conserving the endangered Yangtze fauna. Science of The Total Environment.

The page saysThe family was down to two living members. The other was the Chinese paddlefish of the Yangtze River, one of the largest freshwater fish species at up to seven meters long.
The source sayswas one of only two extant members of a relict lineage that was most diverse and widespread 34-75 million years ago. It is also one of the largest freshwater fish species, reaching up to 7 m in length. The Chinese paddlefish was once common in the Yangtze River
The page saysA basin-wide capture survey in 2017 and 2018 found 332 fish species but not a single Chinese paddlefish, and researchers estimate it was extinct by 2005, and no later than 2010.
The source saysa basin-wide capture survey during 2017-2018 found 332 fish species, but did not find a single specimen of Chinese paddlefish ... we estimated the timing of extinction to be by 2005, and no later than by 2010
The page saysThe Chinese paddlefish of the Yangtze River was one of the largest freshwater fish species, reaching up to seven meters long.
The source saysIt is also one of the largest freshwater fish species, reaching up to 7 m in length. The Chinese paddlefish was once common in the Yangtze RiverNote: faq 4
The page saysA basin-wide capture survey in 2017 and 2018 found 332 fish species but not a single Chinese paddlefish, and researchers estimate it was extinct by 2005, and no later than 2010.
The source saysa basin-wide capture survey during 2017-2018 found 332 fish species, but did not find a single specimen of Chinese paddlefish ... we estimated the timing of extinction to be by 2005, and no later than by 2010Note: faq 4, same sentence as the body

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.