Longnose gar
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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Longnose Gar | image = Longnose_gar.png | image_width = 200px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Actinopterygii | ordo = Semionotiformes | familia = Lepisosteidae | genus = Lepisosteus | species = L. osseus | binomial = Lepisosteus osseus | binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758 }}
The longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus, is a gar, a type of primitive ray-finned fish. It is also known as the needlenose gar.
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Identification
Snout is very long and a narrow beak containing many large teeth. Body long and cylindrical, covered with diamond-shape scales.
Adult size
Usually ranges to about 24-40 inches and weighs 1-7 pounds; may grow to 49 inches and 25 pounds.
Food
They usually eat minnows and gizzard shad.
Biology
You can usually find Longnose Gar in backwaters, low inflow pools and clear streams. Longnose gar spawn during early April, in shallow riffle areas. Females are larger than the males. They are usually accompanied by one or many males. Nests are never prepared. Each female deposits a portion of her eggs in several different areas. Hatching takes six to eight days.
Distribution
Longnose Gar are found in rivers and lakes throughout the eastern half of the United States, as far north as southern Quebec, and as far south as northern Mexico. The most concentrated numbers of Longnose gar are found throughout the Deep South, Texas, and anywhere along the Mississippi River.
How to catch
Longnose gar may be captured by entangling the teeth in nylon threads, bowfishing, or by spear fishing.
Longnose gar will also take live baits, but hooking them is problematic. Use a small circle-style hook and let them have your bait for several minutes. The circle hook will prevent any serious injury to the gar, as it is designed to catch only in the corner of the mouth, and this will allow you to enjoy one of the greatest creations of nature that exist in all its ferocity and determination. They can be nocturnal feeders in some waters, so be prepared to angle for them in the twilight.
Economic value
Gar skin is sometimes sold as jewelry.