Gar
Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
FreshwaterLepisosteidaeLeast Concern
About
The Spotted Gar is a slender, cylindrical fish characterized by its elongated snout filled with sharp teeth and numerous dark spots covering its body and fins. They are ambush predators, often lying motionless near the surface or among vegetation, waiting to strike at unsuspecting prey.
- Average size
- 2-3 feet (60-90 cm), 3-10 lbs (1.4-4.5 kg)
- Colors
- Olive-brown to greenish-brown dorsally, lighter sides with dark brown or black spots, and a white or yellowish belly.
- Diet
- Primarily fish, but also crustaceans, insects, and occasionally small birds or mammals.
- Region
- Primarily found in the Mississippi River basin, from the Great Lakes region south to the Gulf Coast, and west to Texas and Oklahoma.