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LEPISOSTEIDAE.NET |
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Order Lepisosteiformes Family Lepisosteidae Genus Lepisosteus Species platostomus (Rafinesque 1820) Common name: shortnose gar |
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Illustrations © Emily S. Damstra, Joe Tomelleri; used with permission |
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Max Size/Age: 88 cm (wild), adults typically 50-70 cm 20 years
Identification: Lateral line scales - 55-64 Predorsal scales - 50-60 Gill rakers - 16-25
Usually no spots on head or body; spotted individuals occasionally found from clear water habitats. Snout is shorter and broader than longnose gar and spotted gar. Caudal peduncle shorter than that of longnose gar.
Habitat: freshwater; primarily rivers, also lakes temperate
Distribution: North America: USA in Mississippi River basin from south central Ohio, north Indiana, and Wisconsin to Montana and south to north Alabama and Louisiana; Lake Michigan drainage, Wisconsin ; Calcasieu and Mermentau rivers on Louisiana Gulf Coast. US Distribution by Watershed (NatureServe 2009)
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References: www.fishbase.org www.NatureServe.org |
