Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

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

County Occurence
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.