{"elementGlobalId":102977,"circumscripConfidence":{"id":1,"circumscripConfidenceDescEn":"1 - Strong","circumscripConfidenceDescEs":"1 - Fuerte","circumscripConfidenceDescFr":"1 – Forte"},"classificationLevel":{"id":7,"classificationLevelNameEn":"Species","classificationLevelNameEs":"Especies","classificationLevelNameFr":"Espèce"},"classificationStatus":{"id":1,"classificationStatusDescEn":"Standard","classificationStatusDescEs":"Estándar","classificationStatusDescFr":"Standard"},"iucn":{"id":11,"iucnDescEn":"Least concern","iucnDescEs":"Menos preocupante","iucnDescFr":"Moins préoccupante","iucnCode":"LC"},"nameCategory":{"id":1,"nameCategoryDescEn":"Vertebrate Animal","nameCategoryDescEs":"Animal vertebrado","nameCategoryDescFr":"Animal vertébré","nameTypeCd":"A","nameTypeDesc":"Zoological"},"rankMethodUsed":{"id":4,"rankMethodUsedDescEn":"Expertise without calculation","rankMethodUsedDescEs":null,"rankMethodUsedDescFr":null,"rankMethodUsedExternalDescEn":"Ranked by inspection","rankMethodUsedExternalDescEs":null,"rankMethodUsedExternalDescFr":null},"formattedScientificName":"<i>Atractosteus spatula</i>","scientificName":"Atractosteus spatula","scientificNameAuthor":"(Lacepède, 1803)","primaryCommonName":"Alligator Gar","relatedItisNames":"<i>Atractosteus spatula</i> (Lacepède, 1803) (TSN 201897)","uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102977","elcode":"AFCBA02010","conceptRefFullCitation":"Wiley, E. O. 1976. The phylogeny and biogeography of fossil and recent gars (Actinopterygii: Lepisosteidae). Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas Miscellaneous Publications 64:1-111.","conceptName":"<i>Atractosteus spatula</i>","taxonomicComments":"Formerly included in the genus <i>Lepisosteus</i>. Placed by Wiley (1976) in genus <i>Atractosteus</i>, along with <i>L. tristoechus</i>, <i>L. tropicus</i>, and a number of fossil species.","roundedGRank":"G3","conservationStatusFactorsEditionDate":"2011-10-24","conservationStatusFactorsEditionAuthors":"Hammerson, G.","primaryCommonNameLanguage":"EN","recordType":"SPECIES","elementNationals":[{"elementNationalId":162584,"classifConfidence":null,"nation":{"id":225,"nameEn":"United States","nameEs":"Estados Unidos","nameFr":"États-Unis","isoCode":"US","region":"United 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range mainly in rivers and river-mouth estuaries in the central and southeastern United States and eastern Mexico; uncommon to rare in most of range, abundant enough to support fisheries in some areas; extirpated or disappearing in northern part of range, declining in the south; decline may be related to channelization, impoundments, frequent barge traffic, and commercial fishing.","grank":"G3G4","rankInfo":{"elementGlobalId":102977,"aooPercentGood":null,"enviromentalSpecificity":null,"intrinsicVulnerability":null,"longTermTrend":{"id":26,"longTermTrendDescEn":"Decline of 30-70%","longTermTrendDescEs":"Disminución del 30 al 70%.","longTermTrendDescFr":"Diminution de 30 à 70 %"},"numberEos":{"id":10,"numberEosDescEn":"21 - 80","numberEosDescEs":"De 21 a 80","numberEosDescFr":"De 21 à 80"},"numberGoodEos":null,"numberProtEos":{"id":1,"numberProtEosDescEn":"None. No occurrences appropriately protected and managed","numberProtEosDescEs":"Ninguno. No hay casos adecuadamente protegidos y gestionados","numberProtEosDescFr":"Aucun. Aucune occurrence protégée et contrôlée convenablement"},"popSize":{"id":33,"popSizeDescEn":"10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals","popSizeDescEs":"De 10.000 a >1.000.000 de individuos","popSizeDescFr":"De 10 000 à >1 000 000 individus"},"rangeExtent":{"id":33,"rangeExtentDescEn":"200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)","rangeExtentDescEs":"200.000 a 2.500.000 kilómetros cuadrados (aproximadamente 80.000 a 1.000.000 millas cuadradas)","rangeExtentDescFr":"De 200 000 à 2 500 000 km carrés (de 80 000 à 1 000 000 miles carrés approximativement)"},"shortTermTrend":{"id":32,"shortTermTrendDescEn":"Decline of 10-50%","shortTermTrendDescEs":"Disminución del 10 al 50%.","shortTermTrendDescFr":"Diminution de 10 à 50 %"},"threatImpactAssigned":null,"rangeExtentComments":"Historical range included the Mississippi River basin from southwestern Ohio (Trautman 1981), southern Indiana, and southern Illinois (Smith 1979) to the Gulf of Mexico; also the Gulf Coastal Plain from the Florida panhandle (Gilbert 1992) to Veracruz, Mexico, with disjunct occurrences in Nicaragua and northwestern Costa Rica (Wiley 1976, Lee et al. 1980). Now the species is extirpated or very rare in most of the northern part of the range north of the Gulf Coastal Plain. A single 1.5-m-long individual has been reported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California; this introduction was attributed to release by an aquarium hobbyist (Raquel 1992). No other non-native occurrences in the United States are known (Fuller et al. 1999).","areaOfOccupancy":null,"areaOfOccupancyComments":null,"numberEosComments":"The number of extant, distinct occurrences is unknown but probably is at least a few dozen. Lee et al. (1980) mapped approximately 90 locality records in the United States, but existing evidence indicates that most of those in the northern part of the range are not represented by extant populations (see trend comments). Robison and Buchanan (1988) mapped 17 sites in Arkansas for the period 1960-1987. Mettee et al. (1996) and Boschung and Mayden (2004) mapped 12 sites in Alabama. Pflieger (1997) mapped five locations in Missouri, but none were more recent than 1965. Smith (1979) discussed records from a few locations in Illinois, but populations evidently no longer exist in those areas. Etnier and Starnes (1993) mapped four sites in Tennessee but noted that recent confirmed records are lacking. Ross (2001) mapped 14 sites in Mississippi, but only 3 were relatively recent. Gilbert (1992) mapped 10 locations in Florida, but the number of extant populations was not indicated.","popSizeComments":"Total population size is unknown but presumably exceeds 10,000. This gar is uncommon to rare throughout most of the range, except locally in swamps and bayous of the south-central United States (Page and Burr 2011). However, Hoese and Moore (1998) stated that this gar is common in brackish water, frequently seen in the Gulf of Mexico, and common as a market fish in Louisiana. It is numerous enough to support a fishery in a reservoir in Tamaulipas, Mexico (Garcia de Leon et al. 2001).","viabilityComments":null,"threatImpactComments":"Local declines have been attributed to overfishing, habitat degradation from river channelization and impoundments, loss of spawning habitat and loss of passages between main river channels and floodplains, and frequent barge traffic (Gilbert 1992, Herkert 1992, Etnier and Starnes 1993, Pflieger 1997, Irwin et al. 2001, Boschung and Mayden 2004, Miller and Robison 2004).","shortTermTrendComments":"Trend over the past three generations is unknown but likely exceeds 10 percent and may exceed 30 percent. One generation is here estimated at 20 years.","longTermTrendComments":"Area of occupancy and abundance have declined over the long term, particularly in the northern part of the range. The degree of decline is uncertain but likely exceeds 30 percent. This gar was historically rare in Illinois (Smith 1979), with no confirmed recent records. It was known historically from the Ohio River in Ohio (Trautman 1981), with no confirmed recent records. In Missouri, Pflieger (1997) described evidence that numerous specimens had been collected in the Missouri section of the Mississippi River, but he knew of no records of this species in Missouri more recent than 1965. A drastic decline evidently has occurred in Tennessee, where the species may be extirpated (Etnier and Starnes 1993). Commercial fishermen report occasional captures, but the identity of these fishes is questionable (Etnier and Starnes 1993). In Oklahoma, \"generally there has been a consistent decline in numbers\" (Miller and Robison 2004). Robison and Buchanan (1988) reported that the population in Arkansas has declined drastically during the last 40 years and that recent confirmed records are few (typically large ones, perhaps indicating a decline in reproduction or recruitment). Formerly there was a significant commercial and sport fishery, but now the species is rarely captured. Historically of statewide distribution in Louisiana (Douglas 1974) but now declining in abundance (Bobby Reed, pers. comm., 1999). Long-term trend in Mississippi is unknown (Ross 2001); all but 3 of the 14 locations mapped in Mississippi by Ross were pre-1983. In Alabama, the species has declined in abundance (Boschung and Mayden 2004); and Mettee et al. (1996) noted that the species has become rare in inland sites in recent years. Small individuals (18-30 inches TL) were found (date not specified, but presumably recently) in brackish water in the Mobile Delta, indicating the occurrence of at least some recruitment. In Florida, the species is widely distributed in the panhandle, but the trend is unknown (Gilbert 1992). Populations may be declining in some Gulf Coastal areas where this gar remained common until recent years (Etnier and Starnes 1993).","inventoryNeeds":"Determine current range and abundance, especially in Mexico. Determine the locations where current reproduction is occurring.","numberProtEosComments":"Given the typical habitat of this fish, it is doubtful whether any occurrences are effectively protected.","protectionNeeds":null,"otherConsiderations":"Of the 13 states in the U.S. range, ranked SX or SH in three, S1 or S2 in six, S3 in three, and S4 in one (Texas). The S4 rank in Texas may not reflect a recent evaluation of status. Two states with ranks of S3 (Tennessee and Florida) actually have very few recent occurrence records.  Scarcity of this species in museum collections is in part related to the large size of most specimens that are captured (Gilbert 1992).","intrinsicVulnerabilityComments":null,"enviromentalSpecificityComments":null},"animalCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":102977,"majorHabitat":{"id":2,"majorHabitatDescEn":"Freshwater","majorHabitatDescEs":"Agua dulce","majorHabitatDescFr":"Eau douce"},"nonMigrant":false,"localMigrant":false,"longDistanceMigrant":false,"mobilityMigrationComments":null,"foodHabitsComments":"Eats mostly fishes and crabs and occasionally other small vertebrates (e.g., see Seidensticker 1987, Garcia de Leon et al. 2001).","animalPhenologyComments":null,"colonialBreeder":false,"length":305,"width":null,"weight":null,"animalPhenologies":[],"animalFoodHabits":[{"animalCagFoodHabitsId":104002,"foodHabits":{"id":2,"foodHabitsDescEn":"Piscivore","foodHabitsDescEs":"Piscivore","foodHabitsDescFr":"Piscivore","displayOrder":2},"adult":true,"immature":true},{"animalCagFoodHabitsId":104003,"foodHabits":{"id":3,"foodHabitsDescEn":"Invertivore","foodHabitsDescEs":"Invertívoro","foodHabitsDescFr":"Invertivore","displayOrder":3},"adult":true,"immature":true}]},"occurrenceDelineations":[{"eoSpecsDetailId":1082,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"eoSpecGroupName":"Gars","subtypes":null,"inferredExtentDistance":null,"inferredExtentNotes":null,"minimumEoCriteria":"Occurrences are based on evidence of historical presence, or current and likely recurring presence, at a given location. Such evidence minimally includes collection or reliable observation and documentation of one or more individuals (including larvae or eggs) in appropriate habitat where the species is presumed to be established and  breeding.","mappingGuidance":null,"separationBarriers":"Dam lacking a suitable fishway; high waterfall; upland habitat.","separationDistanceUnsuitableHabitatat":10.0,"separationDistanceSuitableHabitatat":10.0,"altSeparationProcedure":null,"separationJustification":"Data on dispersal and other movements generally are not available. Separation distance (in aquatic kilometers) is arbitrary but reflects the likely low probability that two occupied locations separated by less than several kilometers of aquatic habitat would represent truly independent populations over the long term.<br><br>Because of the difficulty in defining suitable versus unsuitable habitat, especially with respect to dispersal, and to simplify the delineation of occurrences, a single separation distance is used regardless of habitat quality.","versionDate":"2004-09-21","versionAuthor":"Hammerson, G.","versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-04-30T02:14:57.419443Z"}],"plantCharacteristics":null,"elementManagement":{"elementGlobalId":102977,"eoManagementGroupName":null,"stewardshipOverview":null,"impacts":null,"restorationPotential":null,"siteConservationPlansConsidered":null,"managementMethods":null,"monitoringMethods":null,"managementProgramContacts":null,"monitoringProgramContacts":null,"managementResearchPrograms":null,"managementResearchNeeds":null,"biologicalResearchNeeds":null,"additionalTopics":null},"occurrenceViabilities":[{"eoRankSpecsDetailId":104470,"eoRankSpecsGroupName":null,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"excellentViability":null,"goodViability":null,"fairViability":null,"poorViability":null,"viabilityJustification":"Use the Generic Guidelines for the Application of Occurrence Ranks (2008).<br>The Key for Ranking Species Occurrences Using the Generic Approach provides a step-wise process for implementing this method.","versionDate":null,"versionAuthor":null,"versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-05-14T02:22:54.022208Z"}],"references":[{"id":469291,"citation":"Boschung, H. T., and R. L. Mayden. 2004. Fishes of Alabama. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 960 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Boschung and Mayden","shortCitationYear":2004,"referenceCode":"B04BOS01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:22.001752Z"},{"id":137766,"citation":"Burr, B. M., and M. L. Warren, Jr. 1986a. Distributional atlas of Kentucky fishes. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Scientific and Technical Series No. 4, Frankfort, Kentucky. 398 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Burr and Warren","shortCitationYear":1986,"referenceCode":"B86BUR01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:23.57992Z"},{"id":643304,"citation":"Burr, Brooks M. (Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University) and Donovan B. Henry. 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. June 2000.","shortCitationAuthor":"Burr and Henry","shortCitationYear":2000,"referenceCode":"P00BUR01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:23.57992Z"},{"id":102045,"citation":"Douglas, N. H. 1974. Freshwater fishes of Louisiana. Claitor's Publishing Division, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 443 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Douglas","shortCitationYear":1974,"referenceCode":"B74DOU01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:23.59555Z"},{"id":142827,"citation":"Echelle, A. A., and C. D. Riggs. 1972. Aspects of the early history of gars (<i>Lepisosteus</i>) in Lake Texoma. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 101:106-112.","shortCitationAuthor":"Echelle and Riggs","shortCitationYear":1972,"referenceCode":"A72ECH01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:18:59.575958Z"},{"id":122028,"citation":"Etnier, D. A., and W. C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee. xiv + 681 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Etnier and Starnes","shortCitationYear":1993,"referenceCode":"B93ETN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:15.376653Z"},{"id":134882,"citation":"Fuller, P. L., L. G. Nico, and J. D. Williams. 1999. Nonindigenous fishes introduced into inland waters of the United States. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 27. x + 613 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Fuller et al.","shortCitationYear":1999,"referenceCode":"B99FUL01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:19.486133Z"},{"id":135862,"citation":"Garcia de Leon, F. J., L. Gonzalez-Garcia, J. M. Herrera-Castillo, K. O. Winemiller, and A. Banda-Valdes. 2001. Ecology of the alligator gar, <i>Atractosteus spatula</i>, in the Vicente Guerrero Reservoir, Tamaulipas, Mexico. 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L., S. J. Walsh, N. M. Burkhead, S. Contreras-Balderas, E. Díaz-Pardo, D. A. Hendrickson, J. Lyons, N. E. Mandrak, F. McCormick, J. S. Nelson, S. P. Platania, B. A. Porter, C. B. Renaud, J. Jacobo Schmitter-Soto, E. B. Taylor, and M.L. Warren, Jr. 2008. Conservation status of imperiled North American freshwater and diadromous fishes. Fisheries 33(8):372-407.","shortCitationAuthor":"Jelks et al.","shortCitationYear":2008,"referenceCode":"A08JEL01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:12.147906Z"},{"id":643297,"citation":"Lang, Nicholas (Illinois Natural History Survey). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. March 2000.","shortCitationAuthor":"Lang","shortCitationYear":2000,"referenceCode":"P00LAN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:23.57992Z"},{"id":104497,"citation":"Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. 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