GarLab
@garlab.bsky.social
🐟Conservation, research, and #SciComm
🐟Principal Investigator @solomonrdavid.bsky.social
🐟Co-authored by the #GarLab Team
Views our own
https://garlab.org
🐟Principal Investigator @solomonrdavid.bsky.social
🐟Co-authored by the #GarLab Team
Views our own
https://garlab.org
Reposted by GarLab
Pandering to @solomonrdavid.bsky.social and @garlab.bsky.social?
Always a good choice #25DaysofFishmas!
Always a good choice #25DaysofFishmas!
It’s time to hang up the holiday GAR-land 🎄
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
December 3, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Pandering to @solomonrdavid.bsky.social and @garlab.bsky.social?
Always a good choice #25DaysofFishmas!
Always a good choice #25DaysofFishmas!
Reposted by GarLab
Like other gars, the Florida gar has a specialized swim bladder that can pull double-duty as a lung. This enables them to breath air and survive in poorly oxygenated waters that most other fish couldn't tolerate. During warm months, you may even see them gulping air at the surface #25DaysofFishmas
December 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Like other gars, the Florida gar has a specialized swim bladder that can pull double-duty as a lung. This enables them to breath air and survive in poorly oxygenated waters that most other fish couldn't tolerate. During warm months, you may even see them gulping air at the surface #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by GarLab
Florida gar looks *very* similar to the spotted gar (Lepsiosteus oculatus), both sharing irregular spots all over their head, body, and fins. One way to tell them apart is by the hair (er, scales) on their chinny-chin-chins - the Florida gar lacks ganoid scales under the throat #25DaysofFishmas
December 3, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Florida gar looks *very* similar to the spotted gar (Lepsiosteus oculatus), both sharing irregular spots all over their head, body, and fins. One way to tell them apart is by the hair (er, scales) on their chinny-chin-chins - the Florida gar lacks ganoid scales under the throat #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by GarLab
Florida gar is one of 7 living species of gars - while today’s gars are only found in North America, Central America, and Cuba, fossil records have shown that extinct species of gars were more widespread, being found from all continents except Australia + Antarctica #25DaysofFishmas
December 3, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Florida gar is one of 7 living species of gars - while today’s gars are only found in North America, Central America, and Cuba, fossil records have shown that extinct species of gars were more widespread, being found from all continents except Australia + Antarctica #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by GarLab
A unique feature of gars is those distinctive armor-like scales! Unlike a typical fish’s overlapping scales, gars have interlocking “ganoid” scales that are made up of a material similar to the enamel on our teeth. The name “Lepisosteus” even means “bony scale” 🦴 #25DaysofFishmas
December 3, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A unique feature of gars is those distinctive armor-like scales! Unlike a typical fish’s overlapping scales, gars have interlocking “ganoid” scales that are made up of a material similar to the enamel on our teeth. The name “Lepisosteus” even means “bony scale” 🦴 #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by GarLab
Florida gar are found, perhaps unsurprisingly, in Florida as well as the Savannah + Ochlockonee River systems of Georgia and a tiny sliver of South Carolina. You’ll often find them cosplaying as floating logs in warm, sluggish waters where there are lots of aquatic plants #25DaysofFishmas
December 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Florida gar are found, perhaps unsurprisingly, in Florida as well as the Savannah + Ochlockonee River systems of Georgia and a tiny sliver of South Carolina. You’ll often find them cosplaying as floating logs in warm, sluggish waters where there are lots of aquatic plants #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by GarLab
Like the 7 other living species of gars, Florida gar have unmistakable long slender bodies, beak-like jaws, and interlocking diamond-shaped scales. They’re one of the smaller gars, often ~2 ft (0.6 m) long - compare that to the alligator gar which can grow to nearly 10 ft (3 m)! #25DaysofFishmas
December 3, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Like the 7 other living species of gars, Florida gar have unmistakable long slender bodies, beak-like jaws, and interlocking diamond-shaped scales. They’re one of the smaller gars, often ~2 ft (0.6 m) long - compare that to the alligator gar which can grow to nearly 10 ft (3 m)! #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by GarLab
It’s time to hang up the holiday GAR-land 🎄
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
December 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
It’s time to hang up the holiday GAR-land 🎄
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
Reposted by GarLab
The Nutcracker? Psh, I prefer The Shellcracker!
Other common names for the redear sunfish include “shellcracker” (from the specialized teeth in their throat that enable them to crush the shells of snails + mussels) and “stumpknocker” (from their tendency to congregate around logs) #25DaysofFishmas
Other common names for the redear sunfish include “shellcracker” (from the specialized teeth in their throat that enable them to crush the shells of snails + mussels) and “stumpknocker” (from their tendency to congregate around logs) #25DaysofFishmas
December 2, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The Nutcracker? Psh, I prefer The Shellcracker!
Other common names for the redear sunfish include “shellcracker” (from the specialized teeth in their throat that enable them to crush the shells of snails + mussels) and “stumpknocker” (from their tendency to congregate around logs) #25DaysofFishmas
Other common names for the redear sunfish include “shellcracker” (from the specialized teeth in their throat that enable them to crush the shells of snails + mussels) and “stumpknocker” (from their tendency to congregate around logs) #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by GarLab
Rudolph, the red-eared reindeer! 🦌
With ears so bright, the Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) guides us into Day 2 of #25DaysofFishmas! This member of the sunfish family found throughout the southeastern US is a warm-water loving ray of sun on a cold winter day ☀️
With ears so bright, the Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) guides us into Day 2 of #25DaysofFishmas! This member of the sunfish family found throughout the southeastern US is a warm-water loving ray of sun on a cold winter day ☀️
December 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Rudolph, the red-eared reindeer! 🦌
With ears so bright, the Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) guides us into Day 2 of #25DaysofFishmas! This member of the sunfish family found throughout the southeastern US is a warm-water loving ray of sun on a cold winter day ☀️
With ears so bright, the Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) guides us into Day 2 of #25DaysofFishmas! This member of the sunfish family found throughout the southeastern US is a warm-water loving ray of sun on a cold winter day ☀️
Reposted by GarLab
Spotted Gars think they’re salmon swimming upstream😂
Most gars do in fact migrate to spawn, typically from rivers & lakes into adjacent floodplains.
Some gars, however, swim upstream to spawn. Unlike salmon, gars don’t die after spawning, but often return to the same spawning areas👍
🎥 D.McDonald
Most gars do in fact migrate to spawn, typically from rivers & lakes into adjacent floodplains.
Some gars, however, swim upstream to spawn. Unlike salmon, gars don’t die after spawning, but often return to the same spawning areas👍
🎥 D.McDonald
December 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Spotted Gars think they’re salmon swimming upstream😂
Most gars do in fact migrate to spawn, typically from rivers & lakes into adjacent floodplains.
Some gars, however, swim upstream to spawn. Unlike salmon, gars don’t die after spawning, but often return to the same spawning areas👍
🎥 D.McDonald
Most gars do in fact migrate to spawn, typically from rivers & lakes into adjacent floodplains.
Some gars, however, swim upstream to spawn. Unlike salmon, gars don’t die after spawning, but often return to the same spawning areas👍
🎥 D.McDonald
Reposted by GarLab
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by GarLab
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by GarLab
target audience REACHED
November 24, 2025 at 1:18 AM
target audience REACHED
Reposted by GarLab
SNEAK PEEK of filming GarLab for IMAX!!!
Award-winning Director lan Shive and Cinematographer Toni Stintzing visit @garlab.bsky.social to shoot part of an upcoming nature documentary!
Award-winning Director lan Shive and Cinematographer Toni Stintzing visit @garlab.bsky.social to shoot part of an upcoming nature documentary!
November 25, 2025 at 5:00 PM
SNEAK PEEK of filming GarLab for IMAX!!!
Award-winning Director lan Shive and Cinematographer Toni Stintzing visit @garlab.bsky.social to shoot part of an upcoming nature documentary!
Award-winning Director lan Shive and Cinematographer Toni Stintzing visit @garlab.bsky.social to shoot part of an upcoming nature documentary!
Reposted by GarLab
Saving the C-Gar!
“Cuban scientists race against time to save fish as old as the dinosaurs”
LINK: www.reuters.com/business/env...
“Cuban scientists race against time to save fish as old as the dinosaurs”
LINK: www.reuters.com/business/env...
November 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Saving the C-Gar!
“Cuban scientists race against time to save fish as old as the dinosaurs”
LINK: www.reuters.com/business/env...
“Cuban scientists race against time to save fish as old as the dinosaurs”
LINK: www.reuters.com/business/env...
Reposted by GarLab
Just when you think gars can’t get any bigger, we’re taking them to IMAX 😮
@garlab.bsky.social
@garlab.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Just when you think gars can’t get any bigger, we’re taking them to IMAX 😮
@garlab.bsky.social
@garlab.bsky.social
Reposted by GarLab
Support @garlab.bsky.social & native fish conservation and receive a limited edition #GarWeek sticker!
crowdfund.umn.edu/participant/... #UMNGive
crowdfund.umn.edu/participant/... #UMNGive
November 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Support @garlab.bsky.social & native fish conservation and receive a limited edition #GarWeek sticker!
crowdfund.umn.edu/participant/... #UMNGive
crowdfund.umn.edu/participant/... #UMNGive
November 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by GarLab
In newly reconnected backwaters of the Lower Mississippi River, an ancient fish finds its way home www.nfwf.org/media-center...
Update on National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and partners’ Mississippi River floodplain restoration work!
Update on National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and partners’ Mississippi River floodplain restoration work!
Giving alligator gar a lifeline in the Lower Mississippi River
At dawn, the woods are hushed and damp. River water meanders between towering trees, and a long shadow glides just beneath the surface. A flash of silver breaches the surface before sliding back into ...
www.nfwf.org
November 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM
In newly reconnected backwaters of the Lower Mississippi River, an ancient fish finds its way home www.nfwf.org/media-center...
Update on National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and partners’ Mississippi River floodplain restoration work!
Update on National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and partners’ Mississippi River floodplain restoration work!
Reposted by GarLab
NEW episode of MeatEater Podcast chatting gars & native fish conservation!
Grateful for the opportunity to chat stewardship of freshwater natural resources with Steve Rinella and the hunting & fishing crew! youtu.be/xLDSV5qbyzw?...
Grateful for the opportunity to chat stewardship of freshwater natural resources with Steve Rinella and the hunting & fishing crew! youtu.be/xLDSV5qbyzw?...
November 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
NEW episode of MeatEater Podcast chatting gars & native fish conservation!
Grateful for the opportunity to chat stewardship of freshwater natural resources with Steve Rinella and the hunting & fishing crew! youtu.be/xLDSV5qbyzw?...
Grateful for the opportunity to chat stewardship of freshwater natural resources with Steve Rinella and the hunting & fishing crew! youtu.be/xLDSV5qbyzw?...
Reposted by GarLab
Students perspectives on Alligator Gar fieldwork down south @garlab.bsky.social!
University of Minnesota students reel in a fin-tastic catch during Mississippi River fieldwork
cfans.umn.edu/news/alligat...
University of Minnesota students reel in a fin-tastic catch during Mississippi River fieldwork
cfans.umn.edu/news/alligat...
November 17, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Students perspectives on Alligator Gar fieldwork down south @garlab.bsky.social!
University of Minnesota students reel in a fin-tastic catch during Mississippi River fieldwork
cfans.umn.edu/news/alligat...
University of Minnesota students reel in a fin-tastic catch during Mississippi River fieldwork
cfans.umn.edu/news/alligat...
Reposted by GarLab
WHY sturgeon gotta be like that???
[wait for it]
North America’s largest freshwater fish (White Sturgeon) is obviously jealous of the second largest (Alligator Gar) with its armored scales, teeth, poisonous eggs, air-breathing…but I suppose barbels are cool? 😅
[wait for it]
North America’s largest freshwater fish (White Sturgeon) is obviously jealous of the second largest (Alligator Gar) with its armored scales, teeth, poisonous eggs, air-breathing…but I suppose barbels are cool? 😅
November 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
WHY sturgeon gotta be like that???
[wait for it]
North America’s largest freshwater fish (White Sturgeon) is obviously jealous of the second largest (Alligator Gar) with its armored scales, teeth, poisonous eggs, air-breathing…but I suppose barbels are cool? 😅
[wait for it]
North America’s largest freshwater fish (White Sturgeon) is obviously jealous of the second largest (Alligator Gar) with its armored scales, teeth, poisonous eggs, air-breathing…but I suppose barbels are cool? 😅