Spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)

Scientific name: Lepisosteus oculatus Winchell, 1864

Spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)

The Spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Lepisosteidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 12–20°C (54–68°F).

Spotted gar care at a glance

Temperature
12–20°C (54–68°F)

Biology

Adults occur in quiet, clear pools and backwaters of lowland creeks, small to large rivers, oxbow lakes, swamps and sloughs. Occasionally enter brackish waters. A voracious predator feeding on various kinds of fishes and crustaceans.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Lepisosteus oculatus
Family
Lepisosteidae (Gars)
Order
Lepisosteiformes (Gars)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
150
Common length
100.0
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; demersal
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
North America: Lake Erie and south Lake Michigan drainages south through Mississippi River basin to Gulf Slope drainages from lower Apalachicola River in Florida to Nueces River in Texas, USA.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=4; Fec=1,772)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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