Revised 30 July 2023
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Atractosteus Rafinesque 1820 átraktos (Gr. ἄτρακτος), spindle; osteus (Neo-Latin), bony, from ostéon (Gr. ὀστέον), bone, referring to cylindrical body covered with heavy bone-like (ganoid) scales

Atractosteus spatula (Lacepède 1803) spatula (L.), paddle, spoon or broad blade used for stirring, from spáthē (Gr. σπᾰ́θη), referring to its paddle-shaped rostrum

Atractosteus tristoechus (Bloch & Schneider 1801) three-rowed, from tri– (L.), three, and stoîkhos (Gr. στοῖχος), row, referring to three rows of teeth on lower jaw

Atractosteus tropicus Gill 1863 Latin for tropical, referring to its distribution in Middle America

Lepisosteus Lacepède 1803 lepίs (Gr. λεπίς), scale; osteus (Neo-Latin), bony, from ostéon (Gr. ὀστέον), bone, referring to bone-like (ganoid) scales

Lepisosteus oculatus Winchell 1864 Latin for eyed, referring to eye-like spots on body

Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus 1758) Latin for bone or bony, referring to bone-like (ganoid) scales on head and body

Lepisosteus platostomus Rafinesque 1820 flat-mouthed, from platýs (Gr. πλατύς), flat, and stóma (Gr. στόμα), mouth, referring to its long, flattened jaws

Lepisosteus platyrhincus DeKay 1842 flat- or broad-snouted, from platýs (Gr. πλατύς), flat or broad, and rhýnchos (Gr. ῥύγχος), snout, referring to its broad and flattened upper jaw