Discovery of predator alligator fish in Srinagar’s Dal Lake triggers surprise

The Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) recently discovered a rare type of fish known as a "Alligator Gar" for the first time in Srinagar’s Dal Lake.

Alligator Gar

• It is a ray-finned euryhaline fish and is one of the largest of all freshwater fishes.
• Scientific Name: Atractosteus spatula
• It is the largest species in the Gar family.
• The fossil record traces its group's existence back to the Early Cretaceous over 100 million years ago.
• Gars are often referred to as "primitive fishes", or "living fossils" because they have retained some morphological characteristics of their early ancestors.
• Distribution: Central and North America

Features:

• It is distinguished by its crocodile-like head and razor-sharp teeth.
• It can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh more than 300 pounds.
• Adults have two rows of large teeth on either side of the upper jaw.
• Colouration is generally brown or olive above and lighter underneath.
• They can live for many decades.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Least Concerned

What are euryhaline organisms?

• They are a type of mostly marine organisms with the ability to adapt to a wide range of water salinities.
• They can survive either in freshwater, saltwater or brackish water.
• Some euryhaline organisms migrate between freshwater and saltwater habitats during their life cycle. Some examples of such organisms are salmon, eels, etc.