LEPISOSTEUS — GAEPIKES 31 



The gars are voracious fishes, feeding to a considerable ex- 

 tent on the young of other species. They have no appreciable 

 commercial value, and are treated as a nuisance and a pest by 

 all interested in the fisheries. 



Genus LEPISOSTEUS Lacepede 



GARPIKES 



Characters of the genus included in description preceding. 

 Key to the Species of LEPISOSTEUS found in Illinois. 



a. Large teeth in upper jaw in a single row on each side; size moderate, length 



seldom exceeding four feet. 



b. Beak long and slender, its least width about 20 in its length, its length 2.6 



to 3.4 in distance from eye to caudal; length caudal peduncle 1% to 1% 

 (or even twice) greatest depth of body osseus. 



bb. Beak shorter and broader, its least width about 5% in its length, its length 

 3.6 to 6 in distance from eye to caudal; length caudal peduncle normally 

 not greater than greatest depth of body platostomus. 



aa. Large teeth in upper jaw in two rows on each side; size very large, length 

 6 to 10 feet; beak short and broad, variable, its least width 3 to 5 in its 

 length tristoechus. 



LEPISOSTEUS OSSEUS (Linnjeus) 



LONG-NOSED GAR; BILLFISH 



(Pl., p. 35; ]Map V) 



Linneeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., Ed. 10, 313 (Esox). 



G., Vlll, 330 (Lepidosteus); J. & G., 91 (Lepidosteus) ; M. V., 35; J. & E., T, 109; 



N., 51 (Lepidosteus); J., 68 (Lepidosteus); F., 85 (Lepidosteus); F. F., II. 7, 



464; L., 8. 



Size large, length over 4 feet; depth 10 to 13 in length including beak, 

 9 to 10 in distance from eye to base of caudal; length of caudal peduncle as 

 a rule 1}-^ to II/2 times, sometimes as much as twice, greatest depth of body.* 

 Color pale olive, silvery below; vertical fins and posterior part of body with 

 round black spots, more distinct in the young; very young with a blackish 

 lateral band, typically narrow and not extending on belly as in L. platostomus. 

 Head (including beak) 2.7 to 3.1 in length; beak long and narrow, its great- 

 est width about 6, its least width about 20 in its length; length of beak 2.65 

 to 3.40 in distance from eye to caudal; eye large, circular, 1.6 to 2.3 in inter- 

 orbital space. Dorsal rays 8 or 9 (usually 8); anal rays 8 (sometimes 9); 

 length of pectoral 8 to 9 in distance from eye to caudal. Scales 8 or 9, 60-63; 

 6 or 7; lateral line complete. 



* We have found this the most reliable single character for separation of the very young 

 of this species and the next. 



