Lepisosteiformes are an order of predatory, piscivorous fish that first appeared during the Late Jurassic, 157 million years ago. Lepisosteiformes still inhabit the freshwaters of North and Central America today. They possess elongated bodies heavily armored with rhombic scales, featuring elongated jaws at the front, similar to those of crocodilians, filled with long, sharp teeth. The largest modern Lepisosteiform, the Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula), reaches 2.0 m in length and weighs 45 kg. The meat of Lepisosteiformes is edible, and their hard scales are used by indigenous people for arrowheads and armor, but their eggs are toxic.
