| Family: |
Lepisosteidae (Gars) |
| Max. size: |
200 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 23 kg; max. reported age: 36 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; pH range: 7 - 25; dH range: 10 - 15; depth range - 0 m |
| Distribution: |
North and Central America: Atlantic Slope from Delaware River in New Jersey to central Florisa; St. Lawrence River in Quebec through Great Lakes and Mississippi River basin to Red River (Hudson Bay basin), North Dakota, and south to Louisiana; Gulf Slope drainages from central Florida to Rio Grande drainage in Texas and Mexico. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-9; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 8-10. Long narrow snout. Olivaceous brown above and white below. Dark spots on median fins and on body (Ref. 37032). Scales ganoid: thin bony scutes on leading edges of unpaired fins, and on both edges of caudal fin (Ref. 4639). |
| Biology: |
Adults occur in sluggish pools, backwaters and oxbows of medium to large rivers, and lakes (Ref. 10294). Usually found near vegetation. Occasionally found in brackish waters. Spawning occur in freshwater and possibly slightly brackish water (Ref. 4639). Migrate up rivers during the spawning season (Ref. 4639). Eggs and larvae are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 4639). Voracious predator, feeding on various fishes and crustaceans. The roe is poisonous. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 November 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
other |
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