Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
Spotted gar inhabit quiet, vegetated waters such as backwaters, sloughs, oxbows, and slow streams across much of the central and eastern United States. They are ambush predators, hanging nearly motionless among plants before snapping at small fish, crayfish, and aquatic insects. Their long jaws are packed with sharp teeth, and their hard, diamond-shaped ganoid scales give them a naturally armored body. A notable adaptation is their ability to gulp air with a vascularized swim bladder, helping them survive in warm, oxygen-poor water.
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- Spotted Gar