Revised 24 Feb. 2023
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Polyodon Lacepède 1797 poly– (Gr. πολύ), many; odon, Latinized and grammatically adjusted from the Greek nominative ὀδούς (odoús), tooth, referring to many teeth compared to no teeth in sturgeons (Acipenser) [note: name does not allude to numerous gill rakers as reported by many authors; Lacepède based his description on young specimens, which possess teeth, whereas adult paddlefish do not]

Polyodon spathula (Walbaum 1792) spatula (L.), paddle, spoon or broad blade used for stirring, from spáthē (Gr. σπᾰ́θη), referring to its paddle-shaped rostrum

Psephurus Günther 1873 psêphos (Gr. ψῆφος), pebble; ourá (Gr. οὐρά), tail, allusion not explained, possibly referring to heavy dorsal caudal fulcra in adults

Psephurus gladius (Martens 1862) Latin for sword, referring to long sword-like rostrum [extinct due to overfishing and habitat loss, last seen alive in 2003]