Chinese swordfish (Psephurus gladius) fish species and information / pictures of Chinese swordfish - Psephurus gladius

Chinese swordfish (Psephurus gladius) fish species information

Scientific Name
Psephurus gladius

Common Name
Chinese swordfish

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

Classification

Classified By

Martens, 1862

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Sturgeons and Paddlefishes (Acipenseriformes)

Family

Paddlefishes (Polyodontidae)

Distribution

Region

Asia

Distribution

Asia: China, endemic to the Yangtze River and its tributaries. International trade restricted (CITES II, since 1.4.98; CMS Appendix II).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

4.15 s.e. 0.73 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

300 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.2500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (87 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=5-15)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Critically Endangered (CR) (A2cd;C2a(i);D)