Britannica
Sources used in this answer
When does the paddle-shaped snout begin developing in paddlefish larvae?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
chondrostean
Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) swimming along the seafloor of the Black Sea.
In paddlefish larvae, the characteristic paddle-shaped snout is absent at birth. According to the developmental timeline, this structure begins to appear after two or three weeks of growth.1