A medium-sized gar with distinctive black spots on body and fins. Like its cousins, can breathe air through a modified swim bladder.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The spotted gar is a freshwater fish native to North America that has an abundance of dark spots on its head, fins, and dart-like body. Spotted gar have an elongated mouth with many needle-like teeth to catch other fish and crustaceans. It is one of the smallest of the seven species of gar found in North America, growing 2–3 ft in length and weighing 4–6 lb (1.8–2.7 kg) typically. Gars have diamond-shaped, thick, enamel (ganoid) scales. The name Lepisosteus is Greek for "bony scale".
Source: Wikipedia — Spotted gar Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Long slim fish with distinctive prominent dark spots on body, head, and fins (the "spots" of Spotted Gar); olive-brown.
Similar species. Longnose Gar (no body spots; longer snout). Florida Gar (different range). Alligator Gar (much larger).
Voice. Silent.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Smaller fish, crustaceans, small mammals.
Behavior. Native to Mississippi system and Great Lakes drainages. Ambush predator with rows of needle teeth in long beak. Can breathe atmospheric air via modified swim bladder, allowing survival in oxygen-poor waters. Among the most ancient surviving fish lineages.
§ Range
Mississippi drainage and Gulf coast streams
§ Habitat
Slow rivers, swamps, oxbows
§ Threats
River channelization, dam construction, persecution as "trash fish."
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the spotted gar is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Don't kill gar. Support natural river flow. Maintain floodplain connections.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Spotted gar
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Lepisosteus oculatus
- IUCN Red List · taxon 191094
- iNaturalist · taxon 49565
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Lepisosteus oculatus
§ Sources cited
- American Fisheries Society
- State wildlife agencies
- IUCN Red List 2010
