National Museum Opened American Paddlefish Exhibit

The Smithsonian showcase features historic specimens to highlight the unique anatomy of this ancient fish.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Aquariums

Gouache-painted illustration of an American paddlefish swimming in deep water, highlighting its unique rostrum and ancient biological features. — The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History launched a new exhibit, 'From These Lands,' featuring historical specimens of the American paddlefish. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The National Museum of Natural History has launched a new exhibition titled From These Lands. The display features two American paddlefish specimens, including one collected in 1992 and another catalogued in 1885.

Why it matters

The American paddlefish was selected for this exhibit to represent Missouri, where it serves as the official aquatic animal. The display provides a rare look at a species that remains globally vulnerable.

The exhibition highlights an ancient species that has seen minimal anatomical change over 125 million years. These fish feature up to 70,000 ampullae on their rostrum to detect zooplankton within the water.

The players

National Museum of Natural History

This Smithsonian Institution facility is a major research and museum center located in Washington, D.C.

IUCN

The International Union for Conservation of Nature maintains the Red List of Threatened Species that classifies the American paddlefish as vulnerable.

The details

The American paddlefish uses long, thin gill rakers to sieve microscopic organisms from the water while its ampullary organs detect electrical fields generated by prey. The exhibition showcases these evolutionary adaptations that have persisted for much of the 300-million-year history of the paddlefish lineage.

1885: One paddlefish specimen was catalogued.
1992: A juvenile paddlefish was collected in Boone County, Missouri.
Early 2000s: The related Chinese paddlefish went extinct.
September 22, 2026: The exhibition opened at the museum.

Culture Shift

The exhibit underscores a growing societal focus on preserving ancient species that have survived for millions of years. This trend highlights the contrast between the ongoing survival of the American paddlefish and the extinction of the Chinese paddlefish in the early 2000s.

Visitors to the museum can now view these unique specimens as part of their regular educational visit. The exhibition provides a tangible way for the public to learn about the biological history of a species native to the Mississippi River watershed.

The takeaway

Understanding the unique sensory adaptations of the American paddlefish offers insight into how this lineage has persisted for over 300 million years. Visitors are encouraged to observe how these creatures use their specialized rostrum to thrive in river ecosystems.