>From: Christopher Scharpf <ichthos_at_charm.net>
>Reply-To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
>To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
>Subject: Re: NANFA-- chinese paddlefish
>Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2002 23:29:38 -0400
>
>Moon,
>
>There's a small b&w photo of the Chinese paddlefish in the textbook, THE
>DIVERSITY OF FISHES (p. 213). It has a sword-like rostrum and a protrusible
>mouth (like sturgeons). Its fewer thicker gill rakers resemble those of
>sturgeons. It grows to over 3 m and 700 kg. It feeds primarily on small
>pelagic and benthic fishes.
>
>There are color photos of the Chinese paddlefish in the book FRESHWATER
>FISHES OF CHINA IN COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS. I have scanned them and posted
>them here for a week or so:
>
>http://www.nanfa.org/members/hissom/chinesepaddle1.jpg
>http://www.nanfa.org/members/hissom/chinesepaddle2.jpg
>
>The book is in Chinese so I can't give any details about the photos.
>
>I have a copy of a 1997 paper by Wei et al., "Biology, fisheries, and
>conservation of sturgeons and paddlefish in China," Env. Biol. Fish. 48:
>241-255. According to this paper:
>
>* The species is primarily threatened by hydroelectric dams that block free
>passage to spawning and feeding areas.
>
>* Since 1988, only 3-10 adult paddlefishes have been found below Geshouba
>Dam.
>
>* Limited spawning still exists above this dam, but when the massive Three
>Gorges Dam is completed (in 2009?), it will further threaten the
>paddlefish.
>
>* Artificial propagation appears to be the only hope for preventing its
>extinction, but it has yet (1997) to be successfully bred in captivity. [I
>know that some American paddlefish culturists are helping Chinese
>scientists. Jan, do you know more about this?]
>
>* Detailed biological investigations are impossible because the fish is so
>rare.
>
>* Migration patterns and spawning sites are unknown, but it is presumably
>anadromous. [Which could make breeding them in a lake problematic.]
>
>* Catching broodstock for a captive breeding program is difficut because
>the
>fish is so rare. Moreover, captive ripe males and females have never been
>available at the same time.
>
>* Adults are difficult to keep in captivity; the authors of this paper have
>been unable to hold brood fish for more than a month.
>
>Chris Scharpf
>Baltimore
>
> > All I have found so far is just a few scraps of info that really don't
> > connect well. Like the Chinese paddle fish is a predator not a filter
>feeder,
> > it's paddle is cone shaped instead of flat and that the Chinese import a
> > great many North American paddlefish fry and eyed eggs for some reason
>not
> > explained. I have spent hours looking for an illustration but no luck.
>If
> > there was ever an ecosystem that needed to be preserved by captive
>breeding
> > the ecosystem containing the endangered fish, reptiles and mammals the
>region
> > in question has to be it. Dolphins, dwarf alligators, and many rare
>fish.
> > Most of these animals are temperent zone animals so maybe a large lake
>in
> > North America could be used to house and help breed them. I know that is
>a
> > crazy idea but one day they will be missed. From what I have been able
>to
> > find out the Three Gorges Dam (that might not be the exact name) project
>is
> > queuing up to be the largest unnatural disaster on record but the
>Chinese
> > haven't consulted me as of yet ;-) But if wishes were fishes!
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/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
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/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org
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