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Alligator Gar
Home
Animals
Fish
Alligator Gar
Alligator Gar
Atractosteus spatula
CLASS
Osteichthyes
ORDER
Lepisosteiformes
FAMILY
Lepisosteidae
Range
Coastal southeast United States and into Mexico
Habitat
Slow-moving rivers, lakes, bayous, and bays
Diet
Mainly fish; also snakes, turtles, birds, and small mammals
Weight
Up to 300 ponds
Length
Up to 10 feet
IUCN Status
Not Listed
Facts
Of the seven known gar species, the alligator is the largest.
This ancient fish has existed for 100 million years.
Unlike most of its close relatives, the alligator gar can breathe air and survive above water for up to two hours.
It gets its name from its alligator-like snout and its double row of dagger sharp teeth.
Their eggs are poisonous to humans.
Conservation
Flood control measures have altered their spawning habitats, resulting in population declines. They have also been frequently overhunted.
Open
Daily 9 am - 5 pm
Closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's Day
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Alexandria Zoo
3016 Masonic Drive
Alexandria, LA 71301
P:
(318) 441-6810
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