| Family: |
Lepisosteidae (Gars) |
| Max. size: |
305 cm OT (male/unsexed); max.weight: 137 kg |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; depth range - 0 m |
| 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. |
| Diagnosis: |
Large size and broad, short snout. Light dorsal stripe. Dark olivaceous brown above and white to yellowish beneath. Dark brown blotches on all fins (Ref. 37032). |
| Biology: |
Adults inhabit sluggish pools and backwaters of large rivers, swamps, bayous, and lakes. Rarely enter brackish and marine waters (Ref. 5723). Feed on blue crabs, turtles, waterfowl or other birds and small mammals (Ref. 10294). Giant of the gars (Ref. 5723). Marketed fresh (Ref. 37032). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 November 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
