Distribution:
Eastern North America, Central America (south to Costa Rica), and Cuba
Habitat:
Freshwater
Remarks:
Gars have a distinctively long pointed snout with needle-like teeth, elongate, cylindrical bodies and jaws, spineless fins, and hard, bony scales, about 50 – 65 along lateral line. The dorsal fin is positioned posteriorly; three branchiostegal rays present; tail is shaped with long upper lobe, short lower lobe. Gars are capable of using their compartmentalized and heavily vascularized swim bladder as a lung.
Maximum length about 3.0 m.
The family consists of two genera, Lepisosteus and Atractosteus, with seven species.
References:
Nelson 2006; Robertson 2008