Florida gar

The Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus) is a species of gar found in the US from the Savannah River and Ochlockonee River watersheds of Georgia and throughout peninsular Florida. Florida gar can reach a length over 3 ft (91 cm). The young feed on zooplankton and insect larvae, as well as small fish. Adults mainly eat fish, shrimp, and crayfish. Although edible, they are not popular as food. The roe is highly toxic to many animals, including humans and birds.

Habitat

They can be found in the Ochlockonee River and waters east and in peninsular Florida in medium to large lowland streams, canals, and lakes with muddy or sandy bottoms near underwater vegetation. They are often found in medium to shallow waters. They use an air bladder to breathe air which helps them survive in poorly oxygenated water.

They sometimes will hide in weeds in 4–10 feet. Usually when you find them here, they will have their head in the weeds and will only show a small portion of the body. Some times they will be sitting on the edge of a weed bed. Here they will be about 3–8 inches below the surface. Usually the bottom will be 3 feet or more. It is also common to find them sitting in a marshy shoreline, these gar are typically 2 feet or more in length, with the bottom being no deeper than 6 inches. Larger specimens are rare, but are commonly found in swampy parts of lakes. These areas are never deeper than 6–8 feet.

Behaviour

During the dry season, Florida gars burrow into the sediments of the marshes they inhabit and aestivate through the dry season. Aestivation, similar to hibernation in other species, lowers the animal's metabolic rate. This allows the Florida gar to withstand the high temperatures and dry conditions of their habitats during the summer.