Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus)
|
|
The top predator in the big lagoon in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden is the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus). The gar are most visible in the spring, when the two males escort the heavier female around the pond just beneath the water's surface. Until they grow larger, they will remain secretive for the rest of the year, probably due to the occasional appearance of a hungry Great Blue Heron. This species will eventually grow to over four feet long, at which point they will loose any fear of the Heron. They will eat just about any animal that they can swallow that enters the water. Fortunately, there is more than enough food for three gar, so their impact on fish and tadpole populations is negligible.
Why have gar been put in the lagoon? Gar are a very primitive fish that were around long before the dinosaurs. They are well adapted to Texas summers, when the water is warm and contains relatively low oxygen levels. At times like these, gar have a specialized bladder that enables them to gulp oxygen from the air. Their interlocking ganoid scales are like a suit of armor which protects from most predators. All these ancient adaptations make them look like they belong in a prehistoric garden!
|
class: Osteichthyes / order: Semionotiformes / family: Lepisosteidae / genus: Lepisosteus / species: platyrhincus
| site by larvalbug |
