Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
- Least concern
- Card rarity: Common
- Fish
The spotted gar is a freshwater fish native to North America that has an abundance of dark spots on its head, fins, and dart-like body. Spotted gar have an elongated mouth with many needle-like teeth to catch other fish and crustaceans. It is one of the smallest of the seven species of gar found in North America, growing 2–3 ft in length and weighing 4–6 lb (1.8–2.7 kg) typically. Gars have diamond-shaped, thick, enamel (ganoid) scales. The name Lepisosteus is Greek for "bony scale".
Classification
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Lepisosteiformes
- Family
- Lepisosteidae
- Genus
- Lepisosteus