How many species of Gar are there?

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🐊 Gars at a Glance (Family Lepisosteidae)

🧮 Species: 7 extant (2 genera)
🪪 Genera: Atractosteus (3) • Lepisosteus (4)
🛡️ Armor: Hard diamond ganoid scales
🫁 Air-breathing: Vascularized swim bladder = gulp air in low-oxygen water
🥚 Eggs: Toxic if eaten (to people & pets)
🌊 Water: Freshwater; several tolerate brackish

🐊 Atractosteus (the big-bodied gars)

1) 🐊 Alligator gar — Atractosteus spatula

🗺️ Range: U.S. Gulf drainages (TX→FL), lower Mississippi basin; can enter bays/estuaries
📏 Size: Common 4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m); max 8+ ft (~2.5 m)
⚖️ Weight: Often 30–100+ lb; giants >200 lb reported
🦷 Teeth: Double row in the upper jaw (easy ID)
🍽️ Diet: Fish, crustaceans; large adults may take waterfowl/critters opportunistically
🧠 Notes: Powerful, tolerant of turbid/slow rivers & oxbows; long-lived (50+ yrs)

2) 🐊 Cuban gar — Atractosteus tristoechus

🗺️ Range: Western Cuba (endem ic wetlands & rivers)
📏 Size: 4–7 ft (1.2–2.1 m)
⚖️ Weight: Up to ~100 lb (45 kg)
🌿 Notes: Restricted range; conservation concern; looks like a sleeker alligator gar (but typically single upper tooth row)

3) 🐊 Tropical gar — Atractosteus tropicus

🗺️ Range: Southern Mexico → Central America (Atlantic & Pacific drainages)
📏 Size: 2–4.5 ft (0.6–1.4 m)
⚖️ Weight: Commonly 10–35 lb (4–16 kg)
🌊 Notes: Warm, sluggish waters, floodplains; popular in local fisheries/food markets

🐟 Lepisosteus (the “slimmer” gars)

4) 🐟 Longnose gar — Lepisosteus osseus

🗺️ Range: Widespread eastern North America (lakes, big rivers)
📏 Size: 2.5–4.5 ft (0.75–1.4 m); max ~6+ ft (~2 m)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 ID: Very long, narrow snout; scattered dark spots on body/fins
🌊 Notes: Frequently in clear to tannin waters; strong jumper

5) 🐟 Shortnose gar — Lepisosteus platostomus

🗺️ Range: Mississippi–Missouri–Ohio drainages
📏 Size: 2–3.5 ft (0.6–1.1 m); stocky for its length
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 ID: Broad, short snout; fewer spots; thicker body than longnose
🌊 Notes: Tolerates turbid rivers and backwaters

6) 🐟 Spotted gar — Lepisosteus oculatus

🗺️ Range: Great Lakes–Mississippi–Gulf coastal plains
📏 Size: 1.5–3.5 ft (0.5–1.1 m)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 ID: Heavy spotting on body, head, and fins (more than longnose)
🌿 Notes: Likes vegetated, slow water; often coexists with longnose

7) 🐟 Florida gar — Lepisosteus platyrhincus

🗺️ Range: Florida peninsula & SE Georgia
📏 Size: 2–3.5 ft (0.6–1.1 m); stout
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 ID: Short broad snout; spots present but not as dense as spotted gar
🌊 Notes: Swamps, springs, lowland rivers; tolerates low oxygen well

🔍 Quick ID Cheats (icons = what to look for)

🦷 Teeth: Only alligator gar has a double upper tooth row
👃 Snout shape:
- Needle-long = longnose
- Short/broad = Florida or shortnose
🎯 Spot pattern:
- Spots everywhere (body & fins) = spotted gar
- Sparser spots = longnose/Florida; fewest = shortnose
🧱 Build:
- Heaviest/deepest body = alligator gar
- Slender = longnose

🌱 Life history & ecology (all gars)

🌸 Spawning: Spring–early summer in flooded shallows/vegetation; adhesive eggs
🍼 Larvae: Have a tiny adhesive organ on snout to hang on plants/substrates
🧪 Low-O₂ tactic: Gulp air; survive in warm, stagnant backwaters other fish avoid
🍽️ Feeding style: Ambush predators—side-sweep strike, needle teeth hold prey

⚠️ Safety & ethics (keepers & anglers)

🥚 Eggs are toxic if ingested—keep away from pets/people
🧤 Handling: Bony scales & sharp teeth—use grips/slings; keep fish low over water for releases
🏠 Aquarium note: Even the “small” species outgrow home tanks fast; think indoor pond (tight lids, heavy filtration, strong oxygenation)

📊 One-look Comparison Table

🐟 Species	📏 Typical Length	⚖️ Common Weight	🗺️ Range Highlight	🧭 Fast ID
Alligator (Atractosteus spatula)	4–6 ft	30–100+ lb	U.S. Gulf & lower Mississippi	Double upper tooth row, massive
Cuban (A. tristoechus)	4–7 ft	up to ~100 lb	Western Cuba	Big Atractosteus, single tooth row
Tropical (A. tropicus)	2–4.5 ft	10–35 lb	S. Mexico → C. America	Warm lowlands, floodplains
Longnose (L. osseus)	2.5–4.5 ft	5–25 lb	Eastern N. America	Very long, thin snout
Shortnose (L. platostomus)	2–3.5 ft	4–15 lb	Mississippi basin	Short, broad snout, stout
Spotted (L. oculatus)	1.5–3.5 ft	3–10 lb	Great Lakes–Gulf plains	Heavy body & fin spots
Florida (L. platyrhincus)	2–3.5 ft	4–15 lb	Florida & SE Georgia	Short snout, moderate spotting

TL;DR

🧮 Seven living gars: 3 Atractosteus (bigger) + 4 Lepisosteus (slimmer).
🛡️ All have ganoid armor, air-gulping ability, and toxic eggs.
🦷 Only alligator gar has a double upper tooth row.
🗺️ Ranges span Cuba, Central America, and much of eastern North America.