Taxonomy
Common Name: GAR, ALLIGATOR
Phylum: CHORDATA
Class: OSTEICHTHYES
Order: SEMIONOTIFORMES
Family: LEPISOSTEIDAE
Genus: ATRACTOSTEUS
Species: SPATULA
Taxonomic Authority: LACEPEDE
Taxonomy References: 002
Status
GAME
STATE RANK S1
GLOBAL RANK G3G4
Status References: 003 , 007 , 016
Habitat Summary
"Inhabits sluggish pools and overflow waters of large rivers. In Missouri only found in Mississippi river."
Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"
References: 001
Distribution
General Occurrence in State:
"Occurs in Mississippi R., below the mouth of the Missouri river *001*."
County Occurance
| Known | Likely | Unknown | Not Likely | Historic | Extirpated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUTLER | CAPE GIRARDEAU | ADAIR | |||
| DUNKLIN | JEFFERSON | ANDREW | |||
| MISSISSIPPI | NEW MADRID | ATCHISON | |||
| PEMISCOT | SCOTT | AUDRAIN | |||
| PERRY | ST. CHARLES | BARRY | |||
| ST. LOUIS | BARTON | ||||
| STE. GENEVIEVE | BATES | ||||
| STODDARD | BENTON | ||||
| BOLLINGER | |||||
| BOONE | |||||
| BUCHANAN | |||||
| CALDWELL | |||||
| CALLAWAY | |||||
| CAMDEN | |||||
| CARROLL | |||||
| CARTER | |||||
| CASS | |||||
| CEDAR | |||||
| CHARITON | |||||
| CHRISTIAN | |||||
| CLARK | |||||
| CLAY | |||||
| CLINTON | |||||
| COLE | |||||
| COOPER | |||||
| CRAWFORD | |||||
| DADE | |||||
| DALLAS | |||||
| DAVIESS | |||||
| DEKALB | |||||
| DENT | |||||
| DOUGLAS | |||||
| FRANKLIN | |||||
| GASCONADE | |||||
| GENTRY | |||||
| GREENE | |||||
| GRUNDY | |||||
| HARRISON | |||||
| HENRY | |||||
| HICKORY | |||||
| HOLT | |||||
| HOWARD | |||||
| HOWELL | |||||
| IRON | |||||
| JACKSON | |||||
| JASPER | |||||
| JOHNSON | |||||
| KNOX | |||||
| LACLEDE | |||||
| LAFAYETTE | |||||
| LAWRENCE | |||||
| LEWIS | |||||
| LINCOLN | |||||
| LINN | |||||
| LIVINGSTON | |||||
| MACON | |||||
| MADISON | |||||
| MARIES | |||||
| MARION | |||||
| MCDONALD | |||||
| MERCER | |||||
| MILLER | |||||
| MONITEAU | |||||
| MONROE | |||||
| MONTGOMERY | |||||
| MORGAN | |||||
| NEWTON | |||||
| NODAWAY | |||||
| OREGON | |||||
| OSAGE | |||||
| OZARK | |||||
| PETTIS | |||||
| PHELPS | |||||
| PIKE | |||||
| PLATTE | |||||
| POLK | |||||
| PULASKI | |||||
| PUTNAM | |||||
| RALLS | |||||
| RANDOLPH | |||||
| RAY | |||||
| REYNOLDS | |||||
| RIPLEY | |||||
| SALINE | |||||
| SCHUYLER | |||||
| SCOTLAND | |||||
| SHANNON | |||||
| SHELBY | |||||
| ST. CLAIR | |||||
| ST. FRANCOIS | |||||
| STONE | |||||
| SULLIVAN | |||||
| TANEY | |||||
| TEXAS | |||||
| VERNON | |||||
| WARREN | |||||
| WASHINGTON | |||||
| WAYNE | |||||
| WEBSTER | |||||
| WORTH | |||||
| WRIGHT |
References for distribution: 001 , 006 , 012 , 013
Distribution by Watersheds
Miss. R. from St. Louis to River Aux Vases
Miss. R. from River Aux Vases to Ohio R.
Miss R. from Ohio R. to Arkansas Border
Little R.
Current R.
Comments: ""
Distribution by Ecoregions
Central Till Plains, Mississippi River Alluvial Plains, Ozark Highlands
Comments: ""
Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation
Oak-Hickory Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest
Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri
Glaciated Plains: Eastern
Glaciated Plains: Lincoln Hills
Big Rivers: Lower Missouri
Big Rivers: Upper Mississippi
Big Rivers: Lower Mississippi
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands
Habitat Associations
Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.
National Wetlands Inventory Association:
Riverine
Aquatic Associations:
"Riverine, lower perennial"
References for Aquatic Associations: 001
Habitat Types:
Permanent Stream
References for Habitat Types: 001 , 004
Terrestrial Natural Communities:
References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:
Food Habits
Trophic Level:
"Carnivore"
Larval Food Habits
Comments for larval food habits:
""
References for larval food habits:
Juvenile Food Habits
Osteichthyes (bony fishes); Juvenile stage
Atheriniformes (killifishes, livebearers, silversides); Not Specified
Insects
Insects; Not Specified
Osteichthyes (bony fishes); Adult Stage
Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""
References Juvenile Food Habits 010
Adult Food Habits
Osteichthyes (bony fishes); Not Specified
Semionotiformes (gars); Not Specified
Clupeiformes (herrings); Not Specified
Cypriniformes (minnows, carps, suckers); Not Specified
Siluriformes (catfishes); Not Specified
Perciformes (bass, sunfishes, perches, drums, sculpins); Not Specified
Birds; Not Specified
Anhingidae (darters); Not Specified
Anseriformes (swans, geese, and ducks); Not Specified
Rallidae (rails, gallinules, and coots); Not Specified
Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""
References Adult Food Habits 001 , 008 , 014
Niche Requirements
Egg Niche Requirements
References for egg niches requirements:
Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements
References for feeding larvae niche requirements:
Resting Larvae Niche Requirements
References for resting Larvae niche requirements:
Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Salinity specified in comments(00190)
Water depth: shallow
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features: pools
References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 009 , 012
Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Salinity specified in comments(00190)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 009 , 012
Breeding Adult Niche Requirements
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Salinity specified in comments(00190)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features: pools
References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 012
Feeding Adult Niche Requirements
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Big river habitat: backwaters
Salinity specified in comments(00190)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features: pools
References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 012
Resting Adult Niche Requirements
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Big river habitat: backwaters
Salinity specified in comments(00190)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features: pools
References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 012
Niche Requirement Summary
Big river habitat: backwaters
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Natural features: pools
Salinity specified in comments(00190)
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Water depth: shallow
Comments about Life History:
| Code | Comment |
|---|---|
| 012 | Spawning site information unavailable |
| 007 | In Lake Texoma, OK, spawning is thought to occur during first half of May (young-of-the-year 103-117 mm long were collected in July) *009*. In LA, spawn April-June *011* |
| 099 | Swim bladder has function similar to lungs *001*. Gars can live in water very low in oxygen, periodically rise to surface to breath air *001* |
| 039 | Largest specimen reported from Missouri in recent years was 6'8" long and weighed 130 pounds *009* |
Life History Information
Length-weight relationships specified in comments(039)
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: stalking
Foraging sites: water
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site specified in comments(012)
Comments about Life History:
| Code | Comment |
|---|---|
| 012 | Spawning site information unavailable |
| 007 | In Lake Texoma, OK, spawning is thought to occur during first half of May (young-of-the-year 103-117 mm long were collected in July) *009*. In LA, spawn April-June *011* |
| 099 | Swim bladder has function similar to lungs *001*. Gars can live in water very low in oxygen, periodically rise to surface to breath air *001* |
| 039 | Largest specimen reported from Missouri in recent years was 6'8" long and weighed 130 pounds *009* |
References for life history: 001 , 009 , 011
Management
Beneficial Management Practices:
Regulate harvest of species being described
Beneficial Management References: 006
Adverse Managment Practices:
Adverse Management References:
Comments on Management:
References for Management Comments:
References
| Reference Code | Citation |
|---|---|
| 001 | Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp. |
| 002 | Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp. |
| 003 | The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115. |
| 004 | Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp. |
| 005 | Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24. |
| 006 | Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880). |
| 007 | The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp. |
| 008 | Raney, E.C. 1942. Alligator Gar Feeds On Birds In Texas. Copeia 1942(1):50. |
| 009 | May, E.B. and A.A. Echelle. 1968. Young-Of-The-Year Alligator Gar In Lake Texoma, Oklahoma. Copeia 1968(3):629-630. |
| 010 | Echelle, A.A. and C.D. Riggs. 1972. Aspects Of The Early Life History Of Gars (Lepisosteus) In Lake Texoma. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 101(1 106-112. |
| 011 | Smith, P.W. 1979. The Fishes Of Illinois. Univ. Ill. Press. Urbana, Chicago, and London. 314 Pp. |
| 012 | Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880). |
| 013 | Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102. |
| 014 | Seidensticker, E.P. 1987. Food Selection Of Alligator Gar And Longnose Gar In A Texas Reservoir. Proc. Ann. Conf. S.E. Assoc. Fish Wildl. Agencies 41:100-104. |
| 015 | Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement. |
| 016 | Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2001. Missouri Species Of Conservation Concern. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, Jefferson City, Mo. Xi + 28 Pp. |
| 017 | Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2013. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO. pp. 52. |