The tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) is a large freshwater fish located in Central America. It is located in both Pacific and Atlantic drainage basins, streams, and wetlands. The species holds culinary significance in Tabasco, Mexico, where it is harvested for its tender flesh. The gar uses its signature elongated snout to ambush and capture live prey, usually in the form of small freshwater fish. These features are ancestral in nature, with the species often being considered a "living fossil". Other names for the tropical gar include gaspar in Costa Rica and pejelagarto in Mexico, a combination of "pez" (fish) and "lagarto" (lizard).
Description
The tropical gar can be characterized by its long, torpedo-like body and elongated snout. The tropical gar's body has a grey-green coloration, and can contain dark, asymmetrical patterns. These patterns are more common towards the anterior of the fish, becoming larger and more intense. Like most fish, the tropical gar has a lateral line along its body lined with neuromasts, or clusters of sensory hairs, to determine water current and help with positioning in the water column. The jaw is lined with sharp, conical teeth, aiding prey capture. These teeth consist of ganoid material, similar to their scales, and have rapid turnover.
thumb|Body size and shape of the 7 living gar species|left
It is the smallest of the 7 extant gar species, In the Pacific basin, the species can be found from southern Chiapas in Mexico to the Negro river basin in Nicaragua. The species thrives in water temperatures between 25 °C and 32 °C. The spawn timing of the tropical gar is region dependent. Gar tend to spawn in the midst of the wet season, reportedly spawning in September and October in Mexico and as soon as April in Costa Rica. Vegetation and other refuge has been found to reduce the number of cannibalistic attacks dramatically. Gars are lie-in-wait predators, stalking prey before striking. After capturing a prey item, the gar will move laterally in order to position the prey into its buccal cavity, or mouth. It is the most abundant gar species within its native range.