Longnose Gar Fish: Identification, Habitat, and Conservation #3613263 (License: Personal Use)

The longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) is a primitive ray-finned fish native to North American rivers, lakes, and estuaries, notable for its elongated, needle-like jaws lined with sharp teeth and its thick, rhomboidal ganoid scales that provide armor-like protection. Its dorsal and caudal fins feature bold black spots on a yellowish-tan background, and its streamlined body can reach over 6 feet in length. Often called a “living fossil,” it has remained morphologically unchanged for over 100 million years.

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