<P> Gars ( or garpike ) are members of the Lepisosteiformes ( or Semionotiformes ) , an ancient holosteian order of ray - finned fish ; fossils from this order are known from the late Cretaceous onwards . The family Lepisosteidae includes seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh , brackish , and occasionally marine , waters of eastern North America , Central America and the Caribbean islands . Gars have elongated bodies that are heavily armored with ganoid scales , and fronted by similarly elongated jaws filled with long , sharp teeth . All of the gars are relatively large fish , but the alligator gar ( Atractosteus spatula ) is the largest , as specimens have been reported to be 3 m ( 9.8 ft ) in length ; however , they typically grow to 2 m ( 6.6 ft ) and weigh over 45.3 kg ( 100 lb ) . Unusually , their vascularised swim bladders can function as lungs , and most gars surface periodically to take a gulp of air . Gar flesh is edible and the hard skin and scales of gars are used by humans . </P>
<P> Gars ( or garpike ) are members of the Lepisosteiformes ( or Semionotiformes ) , an ancient holosteian order of ray - finned fish ; fossils from this order are known from the late Cretaceous onwards . The family Lepisosteidae includes seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh , brackish , and occasionally marine , waters of eastern North America , Central America and the Caribbean islands . Gars have elongated bodies that are heavily armored with ganoid scales , and fronted by similarly elongated jaws filled with long , sharp teeth . All of the gars are relatively large fish , but the alligator gar ( Atractosteus spatula ) is the largest , as specimens have been reported to be 3 m ( 9.8 ft ) in length ; however , they typically grow to 2 m ( 6.6 ft ) and weigh over 45.3 kg ( 100 lb ) . Unusually , their vascularised swim bladders can function as lungs , and most gars surface periodically to take a gulp of air . Gar flesh is edible and the hard skin and scales of gars are used by humans . </P>
how many different types of gar fish are there
how many different types of gar fish are there
seven
seven