Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Shortnose Gar (Lepisosteus platostomus) - Uncertain Risk

Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Risk Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments.

Lepisosteus platostomus, Shortnose Gar, is a freshwater fish that is native to portions of the contiguous United States from South Dakota to the Ohio River Valley and south to Alabama and Texas. Lepisosteus platostomus are facultative air breathers that prefer backwater or slow-moving water habitat. Lepisosteus platostomus prefer to spawn over vegetation or other submerged structures and are known to have eggs that are poisonous to birds and mammals. This species has been introduced and established populations outside of its native range in Wisconsin and Michigan. The History of Invasiveness for Lepisosteus platostomus is classified as Data Deficient due to the lack of information on documented impacts of the introductions. The climate matching analysis for the contiguous United States indicates establishment concern for this species outside its native range. A large area of high match was found from the Atlantic Coast to the Intermountain West which includes the native range. The Certainty of Assessment for this ERSS is classified as Low due to the lack of information available on impacts of introductions. The Overall Risk Assessment Category for Lepisosteus platostomus in the contiguous United States is Uncertain.