# Alligator gar (*Atractosteus spatula*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/alligator-gar  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula), also called the gator gar, is a bony fish in the family Lepisosteidae. It belongs to the genus Atractosteus, the order Lepisosteiformes and the class Holostei. The IUCN Red List assesses the alligator gar globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | up to 3.05 m |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Diet | Piscivore |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater, wetland |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Holostei
- order: Lepisosteiformes
- family: Lepisosteidae
- genus: Atractosteus
- species: *Atractosteus spatula* (Lacepède, 1803)

Synonyms: *Atractosteus adamantinus*, *Atractosteus lucius*, *Esox cepedianus*, *Lepisosteus berlandieri*, *Lepisosteus ferox*, *Lepisosteus spatula*, *Litholepis adamantinus*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the alligator gar?

The alligator gar is a bony fish. It belongs to the family Lepisosteidae in the order Lepisosteiformes.

### What is the scientific name of the alligator gar?

The scientific name of the alligator gar is Atractosteus spatula. It is placed in the genus Atractosteus.

### Is the alligator gar endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List assesses the alligator gar globally as Least Concern (LC), which is not a threatened category.

### Who named the alligator gar and when?

The authority for Atractosteus spatula is written as (Lacepède, 1803).

### What is another name for the alligator gar?

The alligator gar is also called the gator gar.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/alligator-gar