Alligator Gar have been largely unchanged for millions of years; they were around during the time of the dinosaurs.
They have very thick scales that act as a suit of armor to protect them from larger predators. Their scales are so thick and durable that native Americans would sometimes use them as projectile points to tip their arrows with.
They are named for their wide snout and larger teeth that resemble that of an alligator. These are the largest members of the Gar family.
Alligator Gar also have the ability to survive in relatively stagnant water with low dissolved oxygen; they will come to the surface to "breathe" by gulping air and storing out in a highly vascularized swim bladder. This assists with buoyancy as well as allows for additional respiration.
Location:
Main Channel Aquarium in the William Woodward Mississippi River Center