The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 7
At times, divers and snorkelers mistake the freshwater gar for a small alligator, and for good reason. Some gar species’ dark markings paired with an elongated body and matching elongated jaw are reminiscent of an alligator. The largest gar species is even named the alligator gar and can grow up to 2 m (6.5 ft) long and weigh over 45 kg (100 lb)! Considered an ancient fish, gars are members of the Lepisosteidae family and are the only surviving members of the Ginglymodi, an ancient group of ray-finned fish from the Triassic period.
