Because of its terrible reputation, efforts to eradicate the “trash fish” were abundant during the 1950s. Indeed, the alligator gar’s less-than-appealing look spawned myths painting it as a pest that wreaked havoc on nets and ate valued sport fish species. This is because the fish, a popular catch among locals today, was once considered a “trash fish” species and nearly culled because of it. The alligator gar got a reputation makeover over the last few years as a way to encourage support for its conservation.Įven though this megafish is still easily found in places like Texas, it was much more abundant in the United States only decades ago. The alligator gar has gills like other fish, but it also has a swim bladder connected to its gut by a unique duct, which allows it to gulp air from the surface, and live in water that is low in oxygen. It’s often olive brown in color and comes armored with glistening scales. The alligator gar is much wider than other gar and has a distinct short, wide snout. According to the state’s Parks and Wildlife Department, the alligator gar is one of the most misidentified fish species around, with residents often mistaking other gar for an alligator gar. The different species of gar each have unique traits, but they also share some similarities, such as the trademark elongated snout the alligator gar is known for. There are at least four different types of gar in Texas alone: the spotted gar, the longnose gar, the shortnose gar, and, of course, the alligator gar fish. In fact, a report revealed that the alligator gar is one of the most abundant predators that swim in the Texas bays, possibly even exceeding the commonly found bull shark. The gator gar - as it’s sometimes called - is an especially regular fixture in the reservoirs and rivers that cut through Texas. Grady Allen/Texas Parks and Wildlife Department The ancient fish’s fearsome teeth make it look like an alligator.Īlthough the alligator gar can be found throughout North and Central America, this species is most common in the lower Mississippi River Valley, from Oklahoma to the west, Arkansas to the north, Texas and portions of Mexico to the south, and east to Florida. One of several species of gar found in North America, Central America, and Cuba, alligator gar is the largest known gar species that exists in the world. Given its ancient lineage, it’s no surprise that the alligator gar is one of the largest freshwater fishes, though it can tolerate salt water as well. Thanks to the discovery of fossil records, this megafish’s existence on Earth can be traced back to the Early Cretaceous Period over 100 million years ago. Alligator gar are among the few fish species that swam during the time of dinosaurs and remain alive today. Like its crocodilian namesake, the alligator gar’s fearsome appearance is an obvious hint to its ancient ancestry. The nickname only refers to the shared resemblance between the two animals, which is easy to see when you compare the fish’s wide head and razor-sharp teeth to that of an alligator’s. Wikimedia Commons The alligator gar has survived on Earth for 100 million years.ĭespite its name, the alligator gar (or Atractosteus spatula) bears no relation to alligators.
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