Lepisosteidae Genus Level Identifiers

General things to look for:

Snout length.
Number of rows of teeth.
Body shape.

Genus Atractosteus (alligator gar)- Body elongate, robust. Snout somwhat shorter than other gars, stout. Color gray-green dorsally, fading to white ventrally.

Genus Lepisosteus (gars)- Body elongate, slender. Snout long to moderately long. Spots on dorsal, caudal and anal fins.

Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)

Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)

Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula)

Longnose Gar (Leposisteus osseus)

Biological Indicators | Aquatic Biodiversity | Statistical Primer

Lepisosteidae Genus Level Identifiers

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