No information on communication between Florida gars was found. They use their sense of vision and tactile cues for perceiving the environment, as well as chemical cues.
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
When wetlands recede, shore birds are a major predator of Florida gar. They gather in huge numbers wherever there is remaining water, and the birds take advantage of this density. There has been a recorded 75% consumption of gar by shorebirds and other predators during these periods.
The armor-like scales and sharp teeth are the main defenses of adults. There is some camoflauge with dark colors blending into the water, but this typically only works in greater depths. However, the roe/eggs, are toxic to humans, mammals, and birds.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Florida gars are fusiform in overall body shape, with a broad snout that is less than 75% of the length of the head. There is a single row of irregularly spaced teeth on both the upper and lower jaws. They also have a single row of enlarged fangs along the outer jaw. The gill rakers are small and pear shaped, and there are 14 to 33 rakers in the outer row of the first arch. Lateral line scales are from 53 to 64, dorsal fin rays usually number 7 to 9 and caudal fin rays 11. Florida gars have a highly vascularized swim bladder that connects to the esophagus, which allows the swim bladder to function as a lung. This function allows Florida gars to inhabit otherwise low oxygen environments. The dorsal and anal fins are placed far back on the body, with the single dorsal fin placed directly above the anal fin. Their tough, ganoid scales form a firm external body covering in a brick-like pattern. They lack bony scales on the ventral surface of the isthmus, which has a concave posterior and a convex anterior. Coloration is typically a dark olive-brown along the back and upper sides, with a white to yellow belly. Young have dark stripes along the back and sides.
Like spotted gars (Lepsiosteus oculatus), Florida gars have irregular, round, black spots all over their head, body and fins. In Florida gars however, these spots sometimes fuse to form stripes. These two gar species can be distinguished from each other mainly by the distance from the front of the eye to the back of the gill cover. In Florida gars, the distance is less than two-thirds of the length of the snout; in spotted gars, the distance is more than two-thirds of the length of the snout.
Another similar species, and the only other gar found in Florida, is the longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus). Longnose gars lack spots on the top of the head and have a much more elongated beak. There are two other species of North American gars: alligator gars, (Atractosteus spatula) and shortnose gars(Lepisosteus platostomus), but they vary greatly from Florida gars and confusion should not occur.
Range mass: 1.36 to 4.28 kg.
Average mass: 2.49 kg.
Range length: 51.7 to 132.2 cm.
Average length: 71.5-109.7 cm.
Range basal metabolic rate: not found (low) cm3.O2/g/hr.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger
No information was found on lifespans of Florida gars.
Lepisosteus platyrhincus inhabits medium to large lowland streams, canals, and lakes with muddy or sandy bottoms, and must be near abundant underwater vegetation. Like all gars, L. platyrhincus uses an air bladder to breathe air to survive in poorly oxygenated or stagnant water that is intolerable to most other fish. Typically occurring between 43 to 28 degrees North, L. platyrhincus is subtropical, demersal and is also tolerant of brackish and estuarine environments.
The Tamiami Canal is a good example of the versatility and adaptability of L. platyrhincus. It is less developed than most, thus having fewer pollutants from urbanization. However, there are still some very stressful environmental conditions. The canal itself is extremely shallow, with high water temperatures, low dissolved oxygen levels, and low flow rates. Despite these overall poor conditions, Florida gars continue to be abundant in the Tamiami Canal.
Florida gars can be found at any depth in the habitats they occupy, from the surface to the bottom of the water body.
Range depth: .6096 to 5.186 m.
Average depth: 1.524-3.048 m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; freshwater
Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; coastal ; brackish water
Wetlands: marsh
Other Habitat Features: estuarine
One of the most widespread and numerous of the gar species in Florida, Lepisosteus platyrhincus is found in the United States from the Savannah River drainage in Georgia to the Ocklockonee River drainage in Florida and Georgia. Lepisosteus platyrhincus is also found in peninsular Florida, generally north of and in Lake Okeechobee.
There is some evidence that L. platyrhincus hybridizes with the spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) in the Apalachicola River drainage.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Florida gars use ram feeding, which is the use of a high velocity lunge or chase to kill prey. This feeding behavior in consists of a slow stalk, resulting in the close, lateral positioning of the head relative to prey. It uses a sideways lunge of the head during the strike, which lasts only 25 to 40 ms and is extremely fast. Prey capture in adults is also characterized by the jaws closing on the prey, then slashing their mouth from side to side. This is followed by manipulation and repositioning of the prey so that the gar can eat them head first.
Young Florida gars feed on zooplankton, insect larvae and small fish. Adults primarily feed on fish, shrimp (17% of the diet), and crayfish.
Animal Foods: fish; aquatic crustaceans; zooplankton
Primary Diet: carnivore (Piscivore , Eats non-insect arthropods)
Lepisosteus platyrhincus is an important prey species for alligators, osprey, and bald eagles, and shore birds during certain times. They are also important predators of fish.
Mutualist Species:
Florida gars are sporty fighters, however they are not fished to a great extent. Those that do fish Florida gar are normally fishing specifically for sport. Although edible, Florida gar are not highly esteemed as food, but they have a mild flavor and firm white flesh. They are consumed in considerable numbers in Louisiana, and are supposed to be a relatively good substitute for lobster.
Positive Impacts: food
Lepisosteus platyrhincus eggs are reported to be toxic to humans, mammals, and birds. In large numbers, some people see these fish as pests. With their high metabolism, they can eat a large amount of fish in a short period of time, devastating populations of other fish.
Negative Impacts: injures humans (poisonous )
Florida gar eggs are relatively large. Larvae possess an adhesive organ on the end of their snout and stay attached to vegetation until they are about 19 millimeters long. This is around the time the yolk sac is absorbed. Young typically feed on zooplankton, insect larvae, and small fish. With their high metabolism, growth and maturation occurs rapidly and a length of up to 762 millimeters is soon realized.
Sex ratios initally lean more towards males but females live longer and grow to be much larger. Other than size, there is easy way to distinguish the sexes.
The roe (eggs) are highly toxic to humans, animals and birds.
Florida gar populations seem to be relatively stable. They are not fished to an extreme extent and have an exceptional ability to overcome high death rates and low quality environments. They are in no danger of being threatened or endangered in the near future.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
None.
Environmental factors such as photoperiod, water temperature, and rainfall are known to influence internal rhythms in fishes, including patterns of reproduction.
Although Florida gars often travel in groups of 2 to 10 or more, males and females have no specific mates. A female will deposit her eggs on vegetation or rocks and a many males follow to fertilize them. There is no paternal investment, as both males and females swim downstream after spawning occurs.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
In Lepisosteus platyrhincus, groups of both sexes congregate in shallow weedy waters where the females place their adhesive eggs among aquatic plants. Males release sperm over the eggs and both sexes leave the spawning area. Following a dormant period in the summer, there is an increase is the testosterone of the males. Female gar also show reproductive hormone increases during this time. Following a single spawning event during the early spring (February to March), reproductive parameters return to basal levels. This indicates that seasonal changes in photoperiod and temperature activate hormone production and declines.
Breeding interval: Florida gar spawn once a year.
Breeding season: Spawning occurs from February to April.
Range number of offspring: 6,000 (high) .
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 3-4 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); broadcast (group) spawning; oviparous
There is no parental involvement in raising the young. The only investment males and females have is traveling upstream to deposit eggs and fertilize them.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female)
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.
This is a mid-sized species of gar. It measures from 51.7 to 132.2 cm (20.4 to 52.0 in) long and typically weighs 1.36 to 4.36 kg (3.0 to 9.6 lb).[4] According to the IGFA, the record weight for this species is 10 kg (22 lb).[5] This species has irregular round, black spots on the top of its head and over the entire body including the anal fin. The distance of the eyes is less than two-thirds the length of the snout. Also, it has a shorter, broad snout with a single row of irregularly spaced sharp teeth on the upper and lower jaws. No bony scales are on the throat. Their color is olive-brown on the back and upper sides, with a white to yellow belly. The young may have dark stripes on the back and sides.
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 hiding on the edge of weeds. Here they will be about 6-10 inches below the surface. Usually the bottom will be 10 feet or more.
This occurs in late winter and early spring, with spawning typically occurring between February and March.[6] Groups of both sexes come together in shallow, weedy water where the females discharge their adhesive eggs among the aquatic plants. Female's eggs are typically fertilized by multiple males.[7] The hatched young possess an adhesive organ on the end of their snouts and stay attached to vegetation until about 0.8 in (2 cm) long. Following spawning in the late winter and early spring, male Florida gars undergo a decrease in their reproductive parameters throughout the summer. This includes a decrease in reproductive hormone levels and gonad maturation. [6]
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. [7]
Adult Florida gar are ambush predators; they stalk their prey and utilize a lateral lunge of their long heads in order to strike and catch their prey. These strikes are very short and fast, typically lasting for only 25 to 40 milliseconds in length. Upon catching their prey, the gar thrash their head from side to side to manipulate the prey before repositioning it to swallow it head first. Adult Florida gar tend to feed on fish, shrimp and crayfish, while young gar feed on zooplankton and insect larvae. [7]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lepisosteus platyrhincus. 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.
