GarLab

Two large Alligator Gar skulls draped in Mardi Gras beads, with the text “Mardi Gars” across the bottom. Play on words with gars, because that’s what the post author does.

Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler!

Happy Mardi Gras from the…

When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance

Need some time wandering prehistoric forests? I'll take you there in When the Earth Was Green, out in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook (paperback on May 5th!). 🌱

Indeed gars are fashion trendsetters!
Here’s an Alligator Gar wearing a snail as a hat! 🐟🐌🎩

Also, how slow (or slowly evolving?) do you have to be for a snail to climb on to your head? 😅

In MN everyone over 62 can take classes for just 10$ a credit and I am gonna learn all about gar from @solomonrdavid.bsky.social in ten years …

When rough is getting boundaries in fishing In this chapter of comprehensive aquatic ecosystem management, Minnesota DNR is moving toward establishing harvest limits for native rough fish.

On the importance of “native rough fish” in Minnesota and to aquatic ecosystems overall👍
www.mankatofreepress.com/sports/outdo...

Thanks for the story Roy Heilman at the Mankato Free Press!

Artists, quote with something silly!

Gar illustration using non-dominant hand and MS Paint!
From the old #MSpaintYourScience trend: eos.org/geofizz/expl...

Once considered 'junk,' native rough fish soon could see new catch limits, protections For more than a century, native rough fish like redhorse, bowfin and buffalo were lumped in with invasive species like common carp — and not considered worthy of protection or management. But there’s ...

Once considered 'junk,' native rough fish soon could see new catch limits, protections www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0... @mprnews.org @kirstimarohn.bsky.social

Longnose Gars and other native fish friends at the Mall of America Sealife Aquarium in Minnesota 🐠

In Pursuit of Alligator Gar, the Ancient Giant of the Shallows The prehistoric fish with a toothy grin is fueling floodplain restoration efforts on the Mississippi River

How understanding Alligator Gars can help Mississippi River floodplain restoration! @nfwfnews.bsky.social

New conservation story: gardenandgun.com/feature/in-p...

Here’s the @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social GAR question based on our team’s living fossil study (led by @chasedbrownstein.bsky.social @dmacguig.bsky.social)!

Stand With Minnesota Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.

I was sent a stack of these many years ago by @drandrewthaler.bsky.social, going to figure out how to give them away in coordination with donations to www.standwithminnesota.com
Standby👍

Stickers featuring a gar fish wearing a red knitted cap, clearly indicating gars are against the current ICE occupation of the Twin Cities in Minnesota (or anywhere!)

I just learned the history, and current significance, of red knitted hats to resistance movements: www.npr.org/2026/01/31/n...

Makes these gar stickers I received (years ago) from @drandrewthaler.bsky.social even more relevant today, especially here in Minnesota!

@garlab.bsky.social -themed content on Jeopardy tonight!

A 2024 study found that gars’ evolution was at a virtual standstill, at .00009 of THESE GENETIC CHANGES per million years… 🐟🦑☠️

honestly this is exactly how your most empathetic friend approaches you. At an angle, neutral face…close but not overwhelming. listening, ready to support whatever emotion you might display in whatever way you need it…an icon

A bowfin (fish) closeup in an aquarium. It appears to have a concerned expression on its face. Probably because Minnesota is currently occupied and there’s a lot of other crazy stuff happening.

Empathetic Bowfin asks “How are you doing?”

Sorry not sorry.

Gars and Minnesotans WILL outlast ICE👍

*sound, on NSFW
🎥remixed from TJ Jaskowski

An Alligator Gar head is seen in the snow in front of a University of Minnesota sign.

GARgantuan pride in our state today❤️

Headshot of an Alligator Gar (fish) in an aquarium. The “expression” on the fish’s face looks concerned (from a human perspective).

Indeed this young Alligator Gar @garlab.bsky.social appears concerned with the state of things here in Minnesota…

Gars!
Sturgeons!
er..medium sized blobby looking fish...?
um...smaller fish that isn't a gar or sturgeon...
Turtle!

It’s A LOT right now.
I needed to take a breath, maybe you do too?

Perhaps with some of my favorite fishes, right here in Minnesota:

A fish scientist at a public aquarium with two Alligator Gar (fish) behind him.

Took a little time for myself to visit some friends.

*taking a mental break at an aquarium housed in Mall of America (where ICE often stages) is a curious juxtaposition, but these are unprecedented times.

Please enjoy a break with like, 100 gar; if you need one👍

Although they are predatory fish, they’re also quite social, one might even say...greGARious 🥁

The “they’re the same picture” meme with Pam from The Office (TV show). The two images are a spatula, and an Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula). If you know, you know.

Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula)🧐🤔

And that’s a wrap on 2025 @garlab.bsky.social!

GARgantuan thanks to our students, collaborators, and friends for their ongoing work and support of our freshwater conservation efforts!

December Fieldwork Recap!
From the frigid Mississippi River in Minnesota to Louisiana & Mississippi (which were also frigid), the @garlab.bsky.social team saw big gars, smaller gars, blobfish and more!

Dough in the shape of a bowfin (fish)

Dough ornament in the shape and colors of an Emerald Bowfin.

Making ornaments with the kids, so I present to you the Fishmas…

“Doughfin” #25DaysOfFishmas

A map of the United States with the different fish species that have been featured during this year's #25DaysofFishmas event

From a serious-looking sculpin to the Arctic's only air-breathing fish, the Northwest leg of the #25DaysofFishmas road trip was full of surprises!

Our trip's almost done, but not without a final stop in the Northeast + #GreatLakes region - because there's no place like H.O.M.E.S. for the holidays!

Submit your abstracts by January 16th 2026!

More details: units.fisheries.org/mnafs/mn-afs...

BIGGEST Longnose Gar for the @garlab.bsky.social team!

At 60.5 inches (154 cm), this fish was a true giant for its species.
Caught-tagged-released, it will help us learn more about river-floodplain connectivity👍

I’m aiming the fish toward our collaborators’ sonar, so we can track/measure it! 🧪🐟

Guess how big these two Alligator Gars were?

Sorry not sorry 😅