Lepisosteus

Lepisosteus (from Greek lepis (), 'scale' and osteon (), 'bone') is a genus of gars in the family Lepisosteidae. It contains four extant species, found throughout eastern and central North America. It is one of two extant gar genera alongside Atractosteus.

== Distribution == Lepisosteus is known to be a freshwater fish. However, they do have the ability to survive in high salinity, and low oxygen water after gulping air. Lepisosteus prefers to reside in brackish and shallow slow-moving waters, living usually in schools. The habitat range of this genus ranges on the Eastern coast from the Gulf of Mexico in Florida north to Quebec. Habitats can be found in the Missouri River Basin and Mississippi River drainage area, westward in the Rio Grande River basin of Southern Texas and Northern Mexico. There are also populations in the Great Lakes except for Lake Superior. Their range can occasionally reach out towards the Mobile Bay, Perdido Bay, and Mississippi Sound.