Tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus)

General data

Main name: Tropical gar
Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
Habitat: Freshwater
Native: North America

Classification

Genus: Atractosteus - Atractosteus
Family: Lepisosteidae - Gars
Order: Lepisosteiformes - Gars
Class: Holostei - Gars and Bowfins
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes

Description

The tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) is a species of fish from Central America, where it is found in the Pacific and Atlantic drainages from southern Mexico to Costa Rica. In Mexico it is known as pejelagarto, a contraction of the words pez (fish) and lagarto (alligator). This gar inhabits a wide range of fresh and brackish water habitats such as rivers, floodplains, lakes and pools, but avoids areas with a strong current. It reaches lengths of up to 1.25 m (4 ft) (although typically less than half that length) and a weight up to 2.9 kg (6.4 lb). The tropical gar looks very similar to the longnose gar in color and markings, but can be distinguished by its shorter, broader snout. The diet consists mainly of cichlids and other fish.

Tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus)

General data

Classification

Description

Taxonomy of Fishes