The Long Lived Paddlefish: A Glimpse into a Bygone Era The recapture of a 98 pound paddlefish in North Dakota, nearly two decades after it was first tagged and released, has provided scientists with an extraordinary glimpse into the life cycle of one of North America's oldest fish species.
The individual, which had grown from 87 pounds to 98 pounds over 18 years, is a testament to the remarkable longevity and adaptability of paddlefish.
Paddlefish have been swimming in the world's rivers for over 100 million years, their ancestors dating back to the age of the dinosaurs.