Meet the Gars Shortnose Distinguishing the Four Types Found in Kentucky

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NATURE NOTEBOOK Spotted Meet the Gars Shortnose Distinguishing the four types found in Kentucky Story by Stephanie Brandt and Matt Thomas The spotted gar has a unique pattern of large spots Illustrations by Rick Hill on the top of its head and body. The shortnose gar is Gars live in a variety of habitats, including slow- similar to the spotted gar, but it lacks spots on its head moving rivers, oxbows and reservoirs. They can and body. Both species are usually less than 3 feet survive in water with low oxygen levels because long and weigh less than 10 pounds. Spotted gar and they have a lung-like swim bladder which allows Gars are often called living shortnose gar occur in the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in them to rise to the surface and gulp air. fossils because they are among the Kentucky has four native species western Kentucky, and the lower Green River basin. planet’s oldest groups of fishes: of gar: alligator gar, spotted gar, they existed more than 200 million shortnose gar and longnose gar. years ago. Gars, which belong to the family Lepisosteidae, have long and slender bodies, beak-like jaws and large, diamond-shaped scales. The word “gar” is the Anglo-Saxon Longnose word for “spear.” (Most commonly caught) Longnose gar have an extremely long and narrow snout. They can grow to 6 feet and weigh 50 pounds. The longnose gar is common throughout the state. The alligator gar is the largest. It can reach 9 feet long and weigh up to 300 pounds. Unlike other gars, it has a short, broad snout and heavy body. Alligator Alligator gar once occurred in the Ohio Adult gar feed primarily on carp, and Mississippi river areas buffalo fish and suckers; they of western Kentucky. The may also scavenge the bottom for Kentucky Department of Fish fish carcasses. On rare occasions, an and Wildlife Resources is alligator gar may eat waterfowl or a working to re-establish native small mammal. populations to these habitats. 20 Kentucky Afield Summer 2012 fw.ky.gov fw.ky.gov Summer 2012 Kentucky Afield 21.

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