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Gar is the ray-finned fish of the family Lepisosteidae. Gar fish are from the infra-class Holostei and are related to bowfin fishes. Garfish is also called garpike.
Gar fish seems to be a cross between an eel and a long-beaked bird. They are regarded as living fossils as they are the oldest fishes from the Cretaceous period.
There are seven gar species which are
Garfish have long and slender bodies, with body color which varies from species to species. They have green bluish to brown bodies, while lower sides are tanned or spotted.
Alligator gar is yellow in green or yellow in color; Florida gars have green-brown upper sides while the lower body is yellow and white. Shortnose gar has a dark brown color, while Longnose gar color depends upon water clarity; in clear water, they are deep green, while in muddy water, they have a brown color.
Gars are large fishes as even the shortest Gar reaches a length up to 3 feet. The longest record length is 9 feet, and Gar weighs around 150 kg.
Alligator gar is the largest and heavier, while the spotted Gar is the smallest.
Garfish have tough diamond-shaped ganoid scales. Gar fish have vascularized swim bladders for breathing air when water oxygen levels are low. Gars can survive both oxygenated water with no air access and de-oxygenated water with access to air.
Gars have elongated mouths, and their jaws and face give their mouth a beak-like appearance. Among all garfish, alligator gars have the longest snout, while longnose gars have the narrower snout.
The long bony jaws are equipped with sharp teeth which are present in rows. They have extraordinary fighting abilities, and their jaws resemble spears.
Gar fish are primarily freshwater fish but also inhabit brackish or salty water. Gars are mostly associated with rivers, lakes, streams, reservoirs, and other large water bodies.
Gars are present in slow-moving and stagnant waters and sometimes inhabit the shallow waters.
Garfish have a wide range which is also confirmed from their fossil record. Gars are widely distributed throughout the United States. Living gars are present in North America and are distributed in Texas, Louisiana, and the eastern coast of Mexico, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Ohio. Gar fish are present on all continents except Australia and Antarctica.
Garfish are ambush predators; their streamlined elongated bodies help them make swift movements. Their diet primarily consists of other fish, blue crabs, and crustaceans, and they sometimes also eat rats, turtles, birds, and carrion.
Habitat destruction is the most significant threat to fish. Large fishes, alligators, and humans are the predators of gar fish.
Fertilization is external. Eggs are adhesive but are toxic to humans. Gar flesh is edible and has a mild flavor. Reproduction takes place in spring from April to August, depending upon location.
Garfish are present in North America, Central America, and Caribbean islands. One can find garfish along the edges of the rivers, weedy cover, and swamp present in small groups.
The best time of year for gar fishing is the peak summer at the end of May and lasts up to November. In July, anglers have the best gar catch. The clear hot sunny day will make your day.
Fishing a gar is such a great battler for anglers. Anglers use different fishing methods depending upon location and their skills; some of the methods are,
