Atractosteus spatula (Lacepède, 1803)

Alligator gar

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Lepisosteiformes \| Lepisosteidae
Synonyms	Lepisosteus spatula, Atractosteus lucius, Lepisosteus berlandieri, ... more
Common names	Garpique alligator, Catán, Catán, ... more

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Image of Atractosteus spatula (Alligator gar)

Picture by Jean-Francois Helias / Fishing Adventures Thailand

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Main reference

Etnier, D.A. and W.C. Starnes. 1993. (Ref. 10294)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Wiley, Ed | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 305 cm OT male/unsexed; (Ref. 3221); common length : 200 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3728); max. published weight: 137.0 kg (Ref. 58490)

Environment

Demersal; freshwater; brackish; depth range 0 - ? m (Ref. 55223)

Climate / Range

Subtropical; 44°N - 20°N, 101°W - 82°W (Ref. 55223)

North America: ranges from Mississippi River basin from southwestern Ohio and southern Illinois in USA south to Gulf of Mexico; Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain from Enconfina River in Florida, USA to Veracruz, Mexico.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Large size and broad, short snout. Light dorsal stripe. Dark olivaceous brown above and white to yellowish beneath. Dark brown blotches on all fins (Ref. 37032).

Adults inhabit sluggish pools and backwaters of large rivers, swamps, bayous, and lakes. Rarely enter brackish and marine waters (Ref. 5723). Feed on blue crabs, turtles, waterfowl or other birds and small mammals (Ref. 10294). Giant of the gars (Ref. 5723). Marketed fresh (Ref. 37032).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

Tools
Biogeographic modelling \| E-book \| Field guide \| Identification keys \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| Point map

Special reports
Check for Aquarium maintenance \| Check for Species Fact Sheets \| Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Very high vulnerability (85 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Luna, Susan M.

Modified by Ortañez, Auda Kareen

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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