Freshwater Predator Exhibit
Green Sunfish
Diet: Omnivore includigcrayfish, frogs, fish, fish eggs and small invertebrates
Weight: Less than a pound
Size: 3-7 inches
Life Span: 4-6 years
Green Sunfish are considered invasive in some of the states of the US. They are able to chase other sunfish away. The max length was about 12 inches and 2 pounds. They are able to tolerate poor water conditions and spend their time hiding.
Alligator Gar
Range: Southern United States and into Mexico
Diet: Carnivore including fish, waterfowl and small mammals
Weight: Over 100 pounds but possibly up to 350 pounds
Size: Commonly up to 6 feet but possibly up to 10 feet
Life Span: Commonly around 50 years. The oldest was found to be 94 years old.
The Alligator Gar is the largest species in the gar family and among the largest freshwater fish in North America. They are named this because of their resemblance to the American Alligator with its broad snout and long, sharp teeth.
They are known as a living fossil because of their retained morphological characteristics of their early ancestors from over 100 million years ago. This includes their spiral valve intestine that allows for an increased surface area of the intestine which allows for an increase nutrient absorption. It also includes their ability to breath both water and air. They have a double row of teeth on their upper jaw.
Their scales are ganoid scales which means that they are rhomboidal shaped with serrated edges and covered in an enamel-like substance. They are excellent protection against predation because of their impenetrableness.
Needlenose Alligator Gar
Range: East Coasts of North and Central America
Diet: Carnivore including fish and frogs
Weight: Up to 55 pounds
Size: Up to 6 feet
Life Span: 15-20 years
The Needlenose Alligator Gar has a snout that is 3x the length of its head. They are known as a living fossil because of their retained morphological characteristics of their early ancestors from over 100 million years ago. This includes their spiral valve intestine that allows for an increased surface area of the intestine which allows for an increase nutrient absorption. It also includes their ability to breath both water and air. They have a double row of teeth on their upper jaw.
Their scales are ganoid scales which means that they are rhomboidal shaped with serrated edges and covered in an enamel-like substance. They are excellent protection against predation because of their impenetrableness.
Black Ghost Knifefish
Range: South America from Venezuela to Paraguay
Diet: Carnivore including insects and small crustaceans
Size: Up to 20 inches
Life Span: 15 years
South Americans believe that the ghosts of the dead take up residence in these fish which is how they got their name. That’s how it got part of its name “ghost.” The “black knife” comes because it looks like a black knife with the extended fin along the bottom.
Black Ghost Knifefish are part of the knifefish family, the same family as the Electric Eel. They also have a weak electric organ and receptors that they are able to use to sense what is around them. Since they are nocturnal, this ability helps them while they are hunting.
Dinosaur Bichir
Range: Nile Basin to West Africa
Diet: Carnivore including shrimps, mussels, prawns, and krill
Size: 6-7 inches
Life Span: Up to 20 years
Dinosaur Bichers are known as the living fossil as their species date back about 60 million years ago during the time of the dinosaurs. The Dinosaur fish has a primitive lung-like paired swim bladder we can consider as a modified swim bladder with gills that allows them to adjust in water with a low level of oxygen and likewise, breathe air when they shoot up to the surface. This enables them to survive out of the water easily and can stay on wet ground for an extended period. As long as the skin is moist, they Dinosaur Bichers are able to remain out of the water indefinitely and can even be raised on land where it will use its large pectoral fins to walk.