Florida Biologists Catch Crooked Fish

FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute  biologists captured a crooked longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) while conducting an electrofishing survey at Silver Glen Springs in the Ocala National Forest.. Credit: FWC

MARION COUNTY, Florida - FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute  biologists captured a crooked longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) while conducting an electrofishing survey at Silver Glen Springs in the Ocala National Forest.

FWC biologists say that this fish likely got its interesting shape from a spinal injury at some point in its life. Still, the fish was 2.7 feet long and weighed over 10.6lbs.

With their razor-sharp teeth and armor-like scales and prehistoric appearance, the Florida longnose gar may look scary, but they are no threat to humans, and they play an important role as an apex predator in many of Florida’s freshwater ecosystems