Lepisosteus
Encyclopedia
Lepisosteus is a genus of gar
s in the family Lepisosteidae.
There are four species:
Three species formerly classified in Lepisosteus (the tropical gar
and alligator gar
) are now assigned to the genus Atractosteus
.
Gar
In American English the name gar is strictly applied to members of the Lepisosteidae, a family including seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh, brackish, and occasionally marine, waters of eastern North America, Central America, and the Caribbean islands.-Etymology:In...
s in the family Lepisosteidae.
There are four species:
- Lepisosteus oculatus Winchell, 1864 (Spotted gar)
- Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Longnose gar)
- Lepisosteus platostomus Rafinesque, 1820 (Shortnose gar)
- Lepisosteus platyrhincus DeKayJames Ellsworth De KayJames Ellsworth De Kay was an American zoologist.-Biography:...
, 1842 (Florida gar)
Three species formerly classified in Lepisosteus (the tropical gar
Tropical Gar
The tropical gar, Atractosteus tropicus, is a fish found in freshwaters from southern Mexico to Costa Rica, reported to reach lengths of up to 1.5 m in the wild . The tropical gar looks very similar to the longnose gar in color and markings, but can be distinguished by its shorter, broader snout...
and alligator gar
Alligator gar
The Alligator Gar , Atractosteus spatula, is a primitive ray-finned fish. Unlike other Gars, the mature Alligator Gar possesses a dual row of large teeth in the upper jaw. Its name derives from the alligator-like appearance of these teeth along with the fish's elongated snout...
) are now assigned to the genus Atractosteus
Atractosteus
Atractosteus is a genus of gars in the family Lepisosteidae.There are three species:* Atractosteus spatula * Atractosteus tristoechus...
.