No, you wouldn’t want this fish as a pet. Humans have not domesticated this species in any way. The IUCN lists this fish as Least Concern. Thankfully, officials eventually added protections to the species, keeping their population from collapsing. Fishermen and even government officials slaughtered the fish in a mistaken attempt to protect more “valuable” sport fish. Sadly, during the 1950s, people considered this species a nuisance. Native Americans used this fish’s strong scales as arrow heads and shields. Once it is within range, the gar lunges forward with impressive speed to snatch up its meal. It swims slowly or lies in the shadows and waits for prey to stray too close. Fish make up the vast majority of its diet, but it eats just about anything that it can catch. It feeds on a wide range of prey, and its diet depends on its size and location. Like the other members of its family, this gar is carnivorous. Though it is not threatened with extinction, this fish has become quite rare throughout its range. Small pockets of populations also live in eastern Mexico. They inhabit coastal regions from the panhandle of Florida to Texas. Most of the population of this species lives in the southern United States. Throughout their range, they occupy both freshwater habitats and saltwater habitats. They often live in lakes, ponds, bays, reservoirs, slow rivers, marshes, and more. The swim bladder acts like a lung, and also helps them regulate their buoyancy.īecause they can live in areas with low oxygen levels, this species prefers slow-moving waters. Swim Bladder – When they gulp air from the surface, it doesn’t go to lungs, but to their swim bladder.Thankfully, when oxygen levels are low this fish simply gulps extra air from the surface. These types of waters often hold very little oxygen. Big Gulp – In their search for food, these creatures often enter rather murky and still waters.This fish can hunt for prey in both fresh and saltwater habitats, which makes them euryhaline. Euryhaline – In the constant search for something to eat, it helps to be flexible.Living Fossil – This species is what researchers call a “living fossil.” This means that fossils of this fish, even those from millions of years ago, look incredibly similar to the living animal today.Learn what else makes this creature so unique, below. Interesting Facts About the Alligator GarĪs one of the largest freshwater fish species in North America, this species is certainly interesting. long, people have reported spotting individuals up to 10 ft. Though researchers have not caught any specimens over 8 ft. Some reports indicate that the maximum size of this species might be much larger. Adults typically measure about 5 or 6 ft. They are impressive creatures, with torpedo-shaped bodies, broad snouts, and sharp teeth. 326, 2008, doi:10.This species is one of the largest freshwater fish in North America, surpassed only by the white sturgeon. " Antibiotics from Alligators!" Nature Reviews Immunology, vol. " Mortality of American Alligators Attributed to Cannibalism." Herpetologica, vol. and Other Extraordinary Tales from the Animal World." 2012.ĭelany, Michael, et al. " American Alligator." Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.īright, Michael. " Frugivory and Seed Dispersal by Crocodilians: an Overlooked Form of Saurochory?" Journal of Zoology, vol. " American Alligator." National Park Service, Barataria Preserve Natural History Series. " If You See an Alligator." Texas Parks and Wildlife. " American Alligator." National Park Service, Big Cypress National Preserve. " Alligators, rulers of the swamps, link marine and freshwater ecosystems." National Science Foundation. " Paleoecology of Miocene crocodylians in Florida: Insights from stable isotope analysis." Palaegeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology. Whiting, Evan T., David W Steadman, and John Krigbaum. Wu. " Alligator sinensis." The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T867A3146005. Accessed on 08 July 2022. " Alligator mississippiensis." The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T46583A3009637. Accessed on 08 July 2022.
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