Shortnose gar

Lepisosteus platostomus

Shortnose gar
summerwinter

Description

Shortnose gar has the shortest snout of all gar species, with a broad, rounded snout that is only slightly longer than the rest of the head. Its body is cylindrical and covered with hard, diamond-shaped ganoid scales that form an armor-like covering. The coloration is olive-brown to dark green on top, fading to white or yellowish on the belly, with dark spots on the fins and body. The dorsal and anal fins are positioned far back on the body near the rounded caudal (tail) fin. It is the smallest of the North American gar species, rarely exceeding 3 feet in length.

Habitat

Mississippi River basin, South-central Ohio, Northern Indiana, Wisconsin, Montana, Alabama, Louisiana, Lake Michigan drainage, Lakes, Swamps, Creeks, Rivers

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