Atractosteus
| Large gars | |
|---|---|
| Alligator gar | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota | 
| Kingdom: | Animalia | 
| Phylum: | Chordata | 
| Class: | Actinopterygii | 
| Clade: | Ginglymodi | 
| Order: | Lepisosteiformes | 
| Family: | Lepisosteidae | 
| Genus: | Atractosteus (Rafinesque, 1820) | 
| Type species | |
| Esox spatula Lacépède, 1803 | |
| Species | |
| See text | |
| Synonyms | |
| 
 | |
Atractosteus (from Greek atraktos (ἀτρακτὀς), 'spindle' and osteon (ὀστέον), 'bone') is a genus of gars in the family Lepisosteidae, with three extant species. It is one of two surviving gar genera alongside Lepisosteus.
The three surviving species are all widely separated from one another, with A. spatula being found in the south-central United States, A. tropicus in southern Mexico and Central America, and A. tristoechus in Cuba. Although generally inhabiting fresh water, they are tolerant of marine conditions.