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Gar ID


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#1 Guest_pagojoe_*

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 01:45 PM

Hey Guys,

Here are some pics of an Iowa fish that a bowfisherman took yesterday. I've seen fewer shortnose gar than any of the other continental species, but I've never noticed one of the local Texas fish with the second row of teeth like the Atractosteus species. Do you midwest fellows see this often? Or is it something other than a standard shortnose?

Many thanks,



Don

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#2 Guest_Brooklamprey_*

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 03:27 PM

The second row of teeth does exist in Shortnosed (All lepisostus actually). It is not as prominient as in Atractosteus by any degree, but you will have occasional specimens show larger second row teeth as pictured.

#3 Guest_pagojoe_*

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Posted 09 August 2009 - 05:46 PM

Thanks Richard. I knew you were the shortnose man!

#4 Guest_E_americanus_*

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Posted 10 August 2009 - 08:49 AM

just like richard said, and i can't reiterate this enough, ALL gar species have two rows of teeth in the upper jaw. the distinguishing factor is the prominence of the second row. in Atractosteus it is a prominent second row, in Lepisosteus, it is much less so. the keys and available literature seem to completely ignore this fact. if you look closely at the upper jaws of even a longnose, you will see a second row of teeth.

nice looking shortnose there--
--solomon

#5 Guest_pagojoe_*

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Posted 11 August 2009 - 08:26 PM

Thanks Solomon. I hadn't realized the Lepisosteus species had the extra row of teeth at all, until I came across a post where you or Richard mentioned them being "less prominent" or something to that effect. All the standard sources that the fishermen use simply note that Alligator Gar have an extra row of upper teeth.

Cheers,



Don



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