Datasets -> Lepisosteus Osseus -> General Information

Entrez Taxonomy
Lepisosteus osseus, the longnose gar, is a ray-finned fish whose genus may have existed in North America for 100 million years. The gar has retained some ancient morphological structures such as a spiral valve intestine and a highly vascularized swim bladder. The latter can serve to supplement gill respiration, allowing gars to breathe air and thus to exist in low-oxygen aquatic environments. The gar is typically found in relatively still fresh or brackish water in the eastern parts of the United States, Central America, and Cuba. The gar has a long lifespan of 15-20 years, with the female typically reaching sexual maturity as late as 6 years old. They can grow up to 1.5 meters long and weigh up to 25 kg. lepisosteus osseus, longnose gar, gar