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LEPISOSTEIDAE.NET |
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Order Lepisosteiformes Family Lepisosteidae Genus Atractosteus Species spatula (Lacepède 1803) Common name: alligator gar |
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Illustrations © Emily S. Damstra, Joe Tomelleri; used with permission |
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Max Size/Age: 305 cm (wild)
Identification: Lateral line scales - 58-62 Predorsal scales - 48-54 Gill rakers - 59-66
Short and very broad snout. Prominent second row of teeth in upper jaw. Largest species of gars. Very young specimens have a dorso-medial white stripe, which is lost when fish reaches approximately 10-15cm. Larger older individuals show little pattern, and are usually gray to olive in color.
Habitat: freshwater, brackish, rarely marine temperate, subtropical Backwaters and pools of large rivers, lakes, swamps
Distribution: North America: ranges from Mississippi River basin from southwestern Ohio and southern Illinois in USA south to Gulf of Mexico; Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain from Enconfina River in Florida, USA to Veracruz, Mexico. US Distribution by Watershed (NatureServe 2009)
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References: www.fishbase.org www.NatureServe.org |
