Atractosteus tristoechus
CR

Atractosteus tristoechus

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_gar

Overview

The Cuban gar, also known as the manjuarí, is a fish in the family Lepisosteidae. It is a tropical, freshwater species, although it also inhabits brackish water. It is found in rivers and lakes of western Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud. The flesh of the fish is edible, but the eggs are poisonous for humans.

The Cuban gar faces severe population decline due to extensive habitat modification and water pollution in Cuba's freshwater systems. Overfishing and collection for the aquarium trade have further reduced wild populations, while agricultural runoff and urban development continue to degrade the limited river and lake habitats where this endemic species persists.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Cuban gar inhabits freshwater rivers, lakes, and associated wetlands throughout Cuba, preferring slow-moving or still waters with abundant vegetation. This endemic species requires clean, well-oxygenated freshwater systems with suitable spawning areas among aquatic plants.

Marine coastal/supratidal· majorWetlands (inland)· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSite/area managementSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationAwareness & communicationsLegislation

Threatened in Cuba

VU

Tropical Pine

Pinus tropicalis

Declining
Oriente Yellow-mottled FrogVU

Oriente Yellow-mottled Frog

Eleutherodactylus ricordii

Declining
EN

Aristolochia clementis

Unknown
VU

Bauhinia dipetala

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Atractosteus tristoechus classified as Critically Endangered?
Atractosteus tristoechus is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Cuban gar faces severe population decline due to extensive habitat modification and water pollution in Cuba's freshwater systems. Overfishing and collection for the aquarium trade have further reduced wild populations, while agricultural runoff and urban development continue to degrade the limited river and lake habitats where this endemic species persists.
Where does Atractosteus tristoechus live?
Atractosteus tristoechus occurs in Cuba, Mexico, and United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Atractosteus tristoechus?
The main threats to Atractosteus tristoechus are 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, and 4.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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