RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- It's Gar Week, during which wildlife and conservation agencies throughout the U.S. take to social media to celebrate and raise awareness about gars, a type of freshwater fish. But what do we know about gars in Virginia?
According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the longnose gar is the only gar species native to Virginia. Its family dates back 245 million years.
The fish is described by the department as having a narrow, beak-like jaw with sharp teeth, which is its most unique feature. They are long and cylindrical with dorsal and anal fins much further back on their bodies.
Longnose gars can be found in slow-moving rivers, overflow ponds, streams or large freshwater bays, according to the department. Specifically, they can be found throughout the James, Potomac, Rappahannock and other watersheds.
They are obligate air breathers, which allows them to survive in brackish -- or slightly salty -- waters and in areas with low dissolved oxygen, the department said.