Shane Roberts Fish ID Research Project

Page 61

Title: fresh water fish

Species #: 60

Common Name: alligator gar Scientific Name: Atractosteus spatula

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: actinopterygii

Order: Lepisosteiformes

Family: Lepisosteidae

Geography / Habitat: Alligator Gar are found in the Lower Mississippi River Valley and Gulf Coast states of the Southern United States and Mexico as far south as Veracruz. Life Strategy: Though the Alligator Gar prefers slow-moving waters of rivers, bayous, and oxbows throughout most of the year, it appears to need spring time inundated floodplain fields or wetland vegetation in order to spawn. Their eggs are very poisonous Food / Feed Strategy: The Alligator Gar is a relatively passive, solitary fish that lives in fresh and brackish water bodies in the Southern United States It is carnivorous and feeds by lurking amongst reeds and other vegetation, ambushing prey.

Body Form or Style: sagittiform Swim / Locomotion Style: carangiform Mouth Position: terminal Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator_gar#Breeding


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