Family Lepisosteidae - Gars

  Order
:
  Class
:
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
  No. of Genera in Ref
:
1
  No. of Species in Ref
:
7
  Environment
:
Fresh : Yes | Brackish : Yes | Marine : No
  Aquarium
:
none
  First Fossil Record
:
upper   Cretaceous    
Ref..   Berg, L.S. 1958
  Remark
:
Gars are chiefly freshwater, in brackish water occasionally; very rarely marine. Distribution: eastern North America (from southern Quebec) to Costa Rica; Cuba. Body elongate. Jaws elongated, with needlelike teeth. Short heterocercal tail. Heavily armored with ganoid scales. Lateral line with about 50-65. Dorsal fin far down posterior. Few dorsal rays. Branchiostegal rays 3. Gular or interopercle absent. Paired vomer. Vascularized swim bladder allows aerial respiration. Vertebrae convex anteriorly, concave posteriorly. About 3 m maximum length. They occur usually in shallow, weedy areas.
  Etymology
:
Greek, lepis, -idos = scale + Greek, osteon = bone ( Ref. 45335).
  Division
:
Secondary freshwater
  Reproductive guild
:
nonguarders
  Typical activity level
:
  Main Ref
:
  Coordinator
:

Show species | Nominal species list for Lepisosteidae | Identification keys | CAS specimen photos | References

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948]                       
Glossary
                    [ e.g. cephalopods]

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