Lepisosteidae

Shortnose gar

Lepisosteus platostomus

Lepisosteid Fish from the Indian Ocean

• Tropical
• Northern Hemisphere
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• North America
• Elongated
• Large
• Tropical fish

The shortnose gar (Lepisosteus platostomus) is a primitive freshwater fish of the family Lepisosteidae. It is native to the United States where its range includes the Mississippi and Missouri River basins, ranging from Montana to the west and the Ohio River to the east, southwards to the Gulf Coast. It inhabits calm waters in large rivers and their backwaters, as well as oxbow lakes and large pools.