Alligator Gar

Atractosteus spatula 

Habitat & Distribution :  Rivers, swamps, and bayous of South-Central US

Diet: Fish, frogs, crustacean 

Size : 1,8-2 m 

Lifespan : 50-70 years

Description

Often called living fossils for having retained morphological features from ancient ancestors, these fish derived their name from their snouts that resemble American alligators 

Behavior

Alligator gar possess a highly vascularized swim bladder that functions like a lung, allowing them to breathe air by gulping it at the surface. They are patient, sit-and-wait predators that often float just below the surface, resembling a log to avoid detection by prey. 

Reproduction

Alligator gar require specific conditions to spawn, usually in late spring when floods connect rivers to backwater floodplains. Several males often gather around a single large female in shallow, vegetation-filled water, where they thrash, bump, and release eggs and milt, often causing a significant commotion. 

Predator(s)

When young : American alligators, birds, other predatory fish