Man reels in rare, black-colored paddlefish in Tulsa County

TULSA COUNTY (KOKH) — A man recently caught a rare black-colored paddlefish in Tulsa County.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation said it's a sight they rarely see in wild, adult fish.

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"When adult paddlefish spend extended time in shallower tailwater habitats, where the water clarity may be greater, they will take on a darker coloration, sometimes almost black," ODWC wrote on Facebook. "It is likely that this paddlefish spent some time in clear, shallow water, effectively getting a dark suntan. In fact, you can see its tan lines around the gill cover."

ODWC says the catch could be a combination of a melanistic fish and the normal effects of shallow clear habitats on paddlefish coloration.

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The paddlefish was released back into the wild.

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