Lepisosteus osseus
(Linnaeus 1758)
Family Lepisosteidae

Lateral view of three longnose gars
From top to bottom, the longnose gars pictured above were collected in Florida from the Apalachicola River, the St. John’s River drainage and the Santa Fe river drainage. They are now specimens in the Florida Museum’s ichthyology collection. Top: UF 238442 Middle: UF 238405 Bottom: UF 187762 Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The longnose gar has a long, narrow snout that is more than twice as long as the rest of the head in adults. It can be found in lakes and the sluggish pools and backwaters of small to large rivers. It is usually found near woody debris or vegetation, and occasionally enters brackish waters. The longnose gar is a member of the gar family.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Native freshwater
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central and Peninsula drainages
  • River Drainages — Perdido River, Escambia River, Yellow River, Choctawhatchee River, Econfina Creek, Apalachicola River, Ochlockonee River, minor Gulf tributaries, Suwannee River, Tampa Bay, the Myakka or Peace River, Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee River, the Everglades and the St. John’s River
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Similar Species

Florida Gar