Range extension of Tropical Gar, Atractosteus tropicus Gill, 1863 (Lepisosteiformes, Lepisosteidae), to the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The distribution of Atractosteus tropicus Gill,1863 is represented by three separate populations, which range from southeastern Mexico to Costa Rica. Herein, we document the first record of A. tropicus in the eastern-most part of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Two individuals (total length 379–491 mm) were captured in Chan Laguna, and spring “ojo de agua” Ley Federal de Reforma Agraria in Campeche. Identification was based on the presence of 59–60 gill rakers on the first gill arch and teeth on palatines. We discuss the records and their pre-His-panic evidence of the species’ occurrence in the Calakmul region, as well as the possible introductions through aquaculture.