Fishes oft/ie Western North Atlantic 8 3 



with a pattern of two or four or more dark stripes on ventral surface. Two other color 

 phases also, a brown and an orange (Phillips, 5J: 331). 



Young, similar in coloration to color given for L. oculatus (pp. 73, 74). 



Size. Kilby reported observations on specimens taken off Bayport, Florida, a mile 

 from shore in the Gulf of Mexico {^i: 91); and three specimens, 169, 445, and 495 mm, 

 were collected from the coastal marsh near Bayport. Hammett and Hammett reported 

 a maximum of 1,330 mm TL in a sample of 225 specimens (jo: 197). 



Development. In this species the development is probably similar to that in L. ocu- 

 latus (p. 74). 



Habits. The diet of this species in brackish and marine waters is unknown. 



Relation to Man. Kilby reported that this species is a nuisance to fishermen 

 {41: 191). 



Range. L.platyrhincus ranges from the southern tip of peninsular Florida north- 

 ward into the lowlands of Georgia. The paucity of records for salt water seems to in- 

 dicate little tolerance of this species for saline conditions, but there may be a lack of 

 collections from the areas of its occurrence. 



Synonyms, with Reference to Occurrence in Salt Water: 



Lepisosteus p/atyrkincus DeKay, Zool. N.Y., I, 1842: 273, p. 43, fig. 137 (Florida); Kilb}', Tulane Stud. Zool., 



2 (8), 1955: 151 (salt water, off Florida). 

 Cylindrosteus castelnaudi Dumeril, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 2, 1870: 347-348, 355, Atlas, pi. 21, figs. 2, 2 a, 2 b 



(Lake Lafayette, Florida). 

 Cylindrosteus megalops Fowler, Proc. Acad. nat. Sci. Philad., 62, 1910: 609, pi. 38, figs, i 5, 16 (Bayport, Florida). 



Lepisosteus Spatula Lacepede 1803 

 Alligator Gar 

 Figures 16, 18 



Study Material. A total of 29 specimens: 28, 187-2,159 mm TL'" (dry mounts 

 or preserved in alcohol), from western Florida along the Gulf coast to Mexico; in- 

 cluding the type of Lepidosteus berlandieri Girard 1858, from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, 

 Mexico, USNM 1003; i) 49-5 rnrn length, 57.3 mm TL, from Hildebrandt Bayou 

 near Port Acres, Jefferson County, Texas, TU 22288; all in TU, UMMZ, USNM, 

 ANSP, AMNH, CNHM, and UT collections. 



Distinctive Characters. Lepisosteus spatula is separable from L. osseus and L. ocu- 

 latus by its large size and broad, short snout. The young of spatula are distinguish- 

 able from the young of oculatus., osseus, platyrhincus, and platostomus by the light 

 dorsal stripe. 



Description. Proportional dimensions in per cent of length, based on 25 speci- 

 mens, 156.5— 1,760.0 mm length; also the 49.5-mm specimen [with measurements 

 enclosed in brackets]. 



10. The largest specimen is now at Tulane University (TU Osteol. Coll. 360). 



6* 



