The Life of Animals | Gar | The gars are members of the Lepisosteiformes (or Semionotiformes), an ancient order of "primitive" ray-finned fish fossils from this order are known from the late Cretaceous onwards. Fossil gars are found in Europe, South America, and North America, Indicating That in times past these fish had a Wider distribution than They do today. There are many species of gar, including the alligator gar That can exceed 10 feet in length.
Gar bodies are elongated, heavily armored with ganoid scales, and fronted by similarly elongated jaws filled with long sharp teeth. All the gars are Relatively large fish, but the alligator gar is the largest Atractosteus spatula, as specimens having been recorded up to 3 meters (9.8 ft) in length. Gars feed extensively on Smaller fish and invertebrates Such as crabs. Gars are found across all of North America (for example Lepisosteus osseous).
Several species are traded as aquarium fish. The hard skin and scales of the gar were the resource persons used by Humans. Native Americans used the scales of the gar as arrowheads, native Caribbeans used the skin for breastplates, and early American Pioneers Their plows covered in skin gar. Not much is known about the precise function of the gar in Native American religion and culture, but besides using the gar, Creek and Chickasaw people have a ritual "dances garfish
