Photo: National Park Service, Fossil Butte National Monument
- Order
- Lepisosteiformes
- Family
- Lepisosteidae
- Size
- About 73.7 cm / 29 in
An unusual Fossil Lake gar with rounded crushing teeth instead of a long toothy snout.
Of the four Fossil Lake gar species, all but one are very similar to modern gars. M. janei lacked the long jaw and sharp teeth characteristic of modern gars.
M. janei teeth were instead rounded and flat, ideal for crushing small invertebrates like snails and crayfish. This gar species is primarily found in association with these fossil invertebrates.
Species text: National Park Service, Fossil Butte National Monument — Fossil Fish Species.