Chinese paddlefish (SciiFii)

The Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius), also known as the Chinese swordfish, is a species of paddlefish that is native to the Yangtze and Yellow River basins in China. This species was once extinct since before 2020s, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced throughout to its former range to help preserve and boost biodiversity, although there are nonnative populations of Chinese paddlefish throughout the rivers of California and Nevada, possibly as a result of unwanted pet releases or from fish farm escapees. At maturity, the species measures an average length of 3 meters (9.8 ft), making it one of the largest species of primarily freshwater fishes. It is the only living species in the genus Psephurus and one of two living species in the paddlefish family (Polyodontidae), the other being the American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula). It is an anadromous species, meaning that it spends part of its adult life at sea, while migrating upriver to spawn. Unlike its close relative, the Chinese paddlefish is largely piscivorous, and mainly preys on small to medium-sized fish and crustaceans. The conservation status of the Chinese paddlefish is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss and historic overfishing, however, thanks to the conservationists, the Chinese paddlefish is a protected species and its habitat is also protected.