Lepisosteus platyrhincus
FAMILY
Lepisosteidae
TAXONOMY
Lepisosteus platyrhincus DeKay, 1842, Florida, United States.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Florida spotted gar; Finnish: Floridanluuhauki.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Maximum total length 52.4 in (133 cm). Has numerous dark brown spots covering the anterior body and head; spots similar to those of L. oculatus, but more prominent and darker on the dorsal surface of the head and body. Also distinguished from L. oculatus by the lack of plates on the ventral surface of the isthmus.
DISTRIBUTION
Florida and the lowlands of southern Georgia, United States. Reported from Pleistocene deposits of Florida based on fragmentary material, but material is too fragmentary to be reliably included in the species.
HABITAT
Quiet lowland streams and lakes with heavy vegetation and a mud-sand bottom. The rarity of records of this species in brackish or salt water may reflect a very limited tolerance to salinity.
BEHAVIOR
Little is known.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds primarily on fishes, but also on crustaceans and insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Little is known about the reproductive habits; may interbreed with L. oculatus in the Apalachicola River drainage.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Turns up frequently in the pet trade.
