Quebec's only gar species is a long, cylindrical, predatory fish, easily recognized by its long, narrow snout. This gar is a primitive fish that is armored with large ganoid scales. Ratios of males to females for gars undergoes a dramatic shift with age.
Females also grow much faster than males.
Like the bowfin, gars can gulp air at the surface. Consequently, this species can survive in poor quality habitats such as stagnant ponds and canals that are characterized by low oxygen conditions.