Baby gar ID

[SimonL]

Hey guys.
We got a bunch of little "alligator gar" in at the store, however, I believe that's not what they are. Beaks a little too narrow, and they are silverish with solid stripes running along the top of the body and the sides. About 2-3 inches long.

Also, they have a weird lobe over their caudal fin, which they shake/vibrate!? I thought that they were deformed, but I've never seen Atractosteus sp this small, so I don't know if this is normal.

They are definately true gars, not one of the other types.

Thanks! SimonL

 

[beblondie]

Pics would help-Anne

 

[Pleco-nation]

Ya with out a pic it is almost imposible to ID the little guys plus alot of gars look sim when small!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Polypterus]

Pics would really help however they sound to me more like a Lepisosteus than Atractosteus.
A key thing to look for with true Alligators is a light stripe on the snount and along the back. A darker stripe along the back usually means it is a Spotted or Flordia gar. I have not observed this stripe on Longnoses and am a bit unsure about it's presence in Shortnose.

The "lobe" on the caudal is totally normal all gars have this. This is actually an extension of the Backbone that remains on all gars just detatched and separated in young fish. They use this extension to move around without moving the body or other fins.

The pic below shows a Juvinile Longnosed just to illustrate the "lobe" over the caudal.