TN00200 ALLIGATOR GAR LEPISOEUS SPATULA
| Species ID | TN00200 |
| Name | GAR, ALLIGATOR |
| Other Common Names | |
| Category | 01 Fish |
| Elcode | |
| Phylum | CHORDATA |
| Subphylum | |
| Class | OSTEICHTHYES |
| Subclass | |
| Suborder | |
| Order | SEMIONOTIFORMES |
| Family | LEPISOSTEIDAE |
| Genus | LEPISOEUS |
| Species | SPATULA |
| Subspecies | |
| Authority | LACEPEDE 1803 |
| Scientific Name | LEPISOEUS SPATULA |
| County Name | Historical Occurrence | Resident Occurrence | General Occurrence | Seasonal Occurrence | Abundance |
| Benton | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Dyer | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Houston | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Humphreys | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Lake | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Lauderdale | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Obion | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Stewart | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Tipton | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Absent Within Counties | Unknown Within Counties |
Hydrologic Unit Code References TN5002
| Quadrangle | Quadrangle Name |
Quadrangle Distribution References
| Ecoregion | Ecoregion Name |
Ecoregion Distribution References
| River Reach | River Reach Name |
River Reach References
Distribution General Comments DOCUMENTED RECORDS FROM REELFOOT LAKE, LOWER KENTUCKY LAKE, HATCHIE RIVER. NO RECENT DOCUMENTED RECORDS. MAY OCCUR PERIODICALLY IN MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINAGE AND LOWER TENNESSEE *2*
General Distribution References
Habitat(s): AQUATIC
Comments on General Habitat
ALSO INHABITS ESTUARY IN GULF COAST *TN5002*
General Habitat References
| Forest Size Class Association |
Forest Size Class Association References
| Society of American Forester's Type Associations | Seral Stage | Canopy Closure |
References on SAF Type Association
| Land Use/Land Cover Associations |
| Streams and Canals |
| Lakes |
| Reservoirs |
| Bays and Estuaries |
| Nonforested Wetland |
Land Use/Land Cover Association References
TN5002, TN5071, TN5076
| National Wetlands Inventory Associations | Class | Modifier | Special Modifier |
| Riverine, lower perennial | Emergent, persistent | Nontidal, permanent | fresh |
| Riverine, lower perennial | Aquatic bed, submergent moss | Nontidal, permanent | fresh |
NWI Association References
TN5002, TN5071, TN5076
| Animal/Plant Associations |
Animal/Plant Association References
Habitat Evaluation Procedures Comments on HEP
HEP References
| Potential Natural Vegetation Associations |
PNV References
| USFS Associations |
USFS References
| Tennessee Habitat Associations | Habitat Value | Translation |
References on TENHAB Association
| Habitat Relationships | Special Habitat Relationships |
References on Habitat Relationships
Trophic| References | |
| CARNIVORE | TN5076 |
| Lifestage | Food Item Consumed | Part of Food Item |
| General | Siluriformes | Adult stage |
| General | Anatidae | Adult stage |
| General | Carrion | All life stages |
| General | Cypriniformes | Adult stage |
| Important | Osteichthyes | Adult stage |
| Adult | Osteichthyes | Adult stage |
| Adult | Carrion | All life stages |
| General | Osteichthyes | Adult stage |
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| General | TN5076, TN5071 |
| Adult | TN5076, TN5071 |
| Important | TN5071, TN5076 |
| Lifestage | Environmental Association |
| General | Flow: Rivers [greater than 5000 cfs mean annual low] |
| General | Turbidity: Murky water [High turbidity] |
| General | Gradient: Low |
| General | Water Temperature: Greater than 27 degrees C |
| General | Dissolved Oxygen: Low [less than 5 mg/l] oxygen concentrations |
| General | Water Level: Permanently flooded areas |
| General | Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Mud or silt |
| Limiting | Gradient: Low |
| Limiting | Water Level: Permanently flooded areas |
| Limiting | Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Mud or silt |
| Limiting | Flood Plain: Specified in Comments |
| Egg | Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Rooted aquatic vegetation |
| Juvenile | Water Level: Permanently flooded areas |
| Adult | Water Level: Permanently flooded areas |
| General | Flood Plain: Specified in Comments |
Comments on General Environmental Associations
FLOODPLAINS, OXBOW LAKES FLOODPLAINS, OXBOW LAKES
Comments on Limiting Environmental Associations
0
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| General | TN5071, TN5076, TN5073, TN5056 |
| Limiting | TN5071, TN5076, TN5073, TN5056 |
| Adult | TN5076, TN5071, TN5056 |
| Juvenile | TN5071, TN5076, TN5056 |
| Egg | TN5002 |
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: LARGE GAR UP TO 10 FEET IN LENGTH AND 100 LBS., VERY SHORT AND BROAD SNOUT, COLOR OLIVACEOUS TO BROWN WITH VENTER LIGHT, DARK SPOTS ON DORSAL, ANAL AND CAUDAL FINS REPRODUCTION: BELIEVED TO SPAWN IN APRIL TO JUNE ON VEGETATION AND SUBMERGED BRUSH
References for Life History Codes
816, 2208, 1306, 2209, 842, 2135, 835, 2685, 2686, 2238, 3690, 4205, TN5002, TN5071
Comments on Life History Codes
| Result | Management Action | ||
| Beneficial | Regulating harvest - restricting weapons/gear use | ||
| Beneficial | Regulating harvest - setting age limits | ||
| Beneficial | Public education - publicity | ||
| Beneficial | Public education - incentive payments | ||
| Adverse | Regulating harvest of species being described | ||
| Adverse | Installing protective nets | ||
| Adverse | Regulating commercial harvest levels | ||
| Adverse | Restricting human disturbance during migration | ||
| Adverse | Public education - incentive payments | ||
| Adverse | Public education - law enforcement |
| References/Result | Reference Numbers |
| Adverse | TN5002, TN5056 |
| Beneficial | TN5002, TN5056 |
Comments on Management Practices
PERMANENT WETLANDS MUST BE RETAINED ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND ITS MAJOR TRIBUTARIES FOR THIS SPECIES TO RETURN.
816* 1980. Atlas of North American Freshwater Fishes. Lee, D.S., Gilbert, C.R., Hocutt, C.H., McAllister, R.E., Stauffer, J.R., Jr. (eds.). Pub. 1980-12 of N. Car. Biol. Surv, N. C. State Mus. of Nat. Hist., Raleigh:854. 835* Cooper, E.L. 1983. The Fishes of Pennsylvania. Penn. State Univ. Press, University Park. 842* Scott, W.B., Crossman, E.J. 1973. Freshwater fishes of Canada. Can. Fish. Res. Board Bull. 184.:966. 1306* Trautman, M.B. 1957. The fishes of Ohio. Ohio State Univ. Press, Columbus:683. 2135* Winn, H.E. 1953. Breeding habits of the Percid fish, Hadropterus copelandi in Michigan. Copeia 1953(1).:26-30. 2208* Page, L.M. 1983. Handbook of Darters. T.F.H. Publ., Inc., Neptune City, N.J:271. 2209* Turner, C.L. 1921. Food of the common Ohio darters. Ohio J. Sci. 22.:41-62. 2238* Fish, M.P. 1932. Contributions to the early life histories of sixty-two species of fishes from Lake Erie and its tributary waters. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 47(10).:293-398. 2685* Smith, H.G., Burnard, R.K., Good, E.E., Keener, J.M. 1973. Rare and endangered vertebrates of Ohio. Ohio J. Sci. 73.:257-271. 2686* Branson, B.A. 1967. Fishes of the Neosho River system in Oklahoma. Am. Midl. Nat. 78.:126-154. 3690* Shireman, J., Stetler, R.L., Colle, E.E. 1978. Possible use of the lake chubsucker as a baitfish. Prog. Fish-Cult. 40.:33-34. 4205* Jenkins, R.E. 1984. Fishes of Virginia (tentative).. TN5002* Eagar, D. and R.H. Hatcher, editors. 1980. Tennessee's rare wildlife Volume I: the vertebrates. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN. TN5056* Trauman, M.B., 1957. The fishes of Ohio. Ohio State University Press, Columbus, OH. TN5071* Pflieger, W.L., 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Missiour Dept. of Conserv., Jefferson City, MO. 343p. TN5073* Douglass, N.H., 1974. Fishes of Louisiana. Claytor's Publishing Div, Baton Rouge, LA. 443p. TN5076* Goodyear, C.P., 1967. Feeding habits of three species of gars, Lepisosteus, along the Mississippi coast. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 96:297-300.