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Family Lepisosteidae - Gars

Order:

Lepisosteiformes

Class:

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

No. of Genera:

No. of Species:

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

Main Ref.:

Nelson, J.S..1984

Coordinator:

Wiley, Ed

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

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