ANNOTATED LIST OF FISHES 



111 



of this section, with the exception of the large-mouthed buffalo fish, the jack shad, and the round 

 sunfish, which approach the paddle fish in their feeding habits. It seems certain that little diffi- 

 culty is experienced in obtaining this plankton material, as all of the stomachs examined were well 

 filled, although one of these fish was taken in a lagoon near Lake Mclntire, which supported an 

 unusually dense fish population. 



In the limited number of stomachs examined copepods constituted the basis of the diet; and 

 although the larvae and pupa? of the midge, Coretha, had been taken in quantities, they are present 

 during only a comparatively short period, of course. 



2. Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus) 

 Long-nosed gar; Bill-pish; Shell gar; Spike-bill gar 

 Esox osseus LinnsBUS, Syst. Nat., Ed. X, 1758, p. 313. 



Only large individuals of this species were taken. Two skins, from fish 890 and 1,180 milli- 

 meters (353^ and 47}^ inches) long, were preserved and no stomach examinations were made. 



The long-nosed gar was not met often, although it may frequent the deeper waters of the rivers 

 and thus have escaped notice. It seems probable, however, that it is primarily a still-water fish 

 and that it is not abundant locally. As its common name implies, this form is characterized by a 

 prolonged beak; and as it is said to frequent submerged brush piles, this specialized organ may be 

 used as "forceps" in obtaining its prey. 



With the exception of the produced snout, this gar is very much like the other two species in 

 shape and color. The dorsal surface of the head is plain olivaceous with two fine median dark lines, 

 beginning just posterior to the nostrils and terminating just anterior to the eyes. When measured 

 at a distance of one-third of its length from the tip, the width of the beak is contained from 16 to 18 

 times in the distance from its tip to the eye. There are from 16 to 24 fulcra in a single row on the 

 anterior edge of the first dorsal ray. The 62 scales in the longitudinal series conform too closely 

 to the number present in the other gars to serve as a distinguishing character. 



This species was taken only in Roebuck Lake, where specimens 4 feet in length are quite com- 

 mon and which, according to published accounts, is about the maximum size attained. 



3. Lepisosteus platostomus Rafinesque 



Short-nosed gar; Duck-bill gar; "Alligator gar" 



Lepisosteus platostomus Rafinesque, Icththyologia Ohiensis, 1820, p. 72. 



Fifteen specimens of this gar, ranging in length from 320 to 630 millimeters (13 to 25 inches), 

 were preserved, measured, and examined as to spawning condition and stomach contents. This 

 is the smallest of the gars, as it is reported to reach a length of only 2 to 3 feet. 



Of the three species collected, the "short-nosed" gar was by far the most numerous, and it appar- 

 ently frequents both rivers and lakes. The rather swift, muddy rivers, however, offer the most 

 favorable environment, for here this species was found to exceed greatly all other fish in the numbers 

 present. Being a comparatively sluggish fish, it is netted easily; but this would not account for 

 the relative frequency with which it was taken in the rapid river currents. 



In the vicinity of Greenwood (and probably over a wider section) the short-nosed species is 

 known as the "alligator gar." L. tristcechus, however, is much more generally designated as the 

 alligator gar in literature, and this name is more appropriate for the last-mentioned species 

 because of the very large size attained. 



With reference to the length and width of snout, the short-nosed gar is intermediate between 

 the long-nosed species (L. osseus) and the alligator gar (L. tristcechus). The width of the beak, 

 measured just posterior to the fleshy tip, is contained from 6 to 7 times in the total length of the 

 snout. 



The heads of the other species of gars are almost plain olivaceous, whereas the short-nosed 

 gar sometimes bears about 9 transverse, dark gray bands, which may be quite distinct on the 

 olivaceous ground color. One specimen has six of these bands between the tip of the snout and the 

 eyes and three between the eyes and the nape. Dorsally, this gar is gray to olivaceus, becoming 

 lighter ventrally, the lower surface being white. The dorsal, caudal, and ventral fins usually are 

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