Atractosteus spatula (Lacepède, 1803) [I]—Alligator gar

Taxonomy. Original description: Lepisosteus spatula Lacepède, 1803: 331, 334, Pl. 6 (fig. 2) [No locality (North America); holotype: MNHN 0000-5804 (dry, mounted)].— Iraq synonyms: None.—Revisions: Grande (2010: 292).—Illustration: Lacepède (1803: 331, 334, Pl. 6 (fig. 2) as Lepisosteus spatula; Mutlak et al. (2017).

Status in Iraq. First record from Iraq by Mutlak et al. (2017).—Iraq materials: MSCUB.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Iraq: Tigris River.—General distribution: North America: central and southern U.S.A. and northern Mexico. Introduced in Iran; Java and Bali (Indonesia).—Habitat: This gar is one of the largest freshwater fishes in North America, inhabiting sluggish pools of large rivers and their bayous, oxbow lakes, swamps, backwaters, and brackish and marine waters along the coast. Feeds on mostly fish and crabs, and occasionally other small vertebrates. Freshwater, brackish, marine.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Reasons of introduction. Ornamental fish industry.

Conservation. Not relevant (introduced species).