Dr. Solomon David
@solomonrdavid
“The Gar Guy” Fish Scientist & Prof | 🌎Freshwater Conservation | SciComm • GarLab | Views mine | he/him | #GarWeek 📍Saint Paul, Minnesota Wherever you go, there you gar @garlab.bsky.social
The new @garlab.bsky.social measuring boards from Osprey Crafts are looking FINtastic! 📏🐟
A native fish species is eating some of the most damaging invasive species in the Great Lakes…AND making a significant impact! Freshwater Drum: The overlooked native fish that has been crushing trillions of Zebra & Quagga Mussels in Lake Erie www.canr.msu.edu/news/freshwa...
Used this image in a paleontology conference talk, but it’s honestly how I feel/what I recall every time I’m next to one of these living fossils. Sam Neil’s portrayal of that childhood fascination, I have no words 🥹
All species of gars have long snouts relative to most fish. Even the “shortnose” gar has a long snout, but the Longnose Gar has a significantly longer and narrower snout compared to other gar species. Here’s a comparison with a Shortnose Gar (photo 1) and also a gar scientist (photo 2) 😅
“Intergarlactic” Check out some Shortnose Gars from the Minnesota River during @garlab.bsky.social native fish research! @lollardfish.bsky.social & @noorwrites.bsky.social joined us that day too!
ConGARtulations Matt! Grateful for all the work you’ve done for conservation and science communication at TNC (and beyond). Looking forward to the next time we can hang out!
There were more people at the DNR Fish Pond at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair (as there should be)! Their Reflecting Pool was much clearer too…AND HAD GAR 😎👍
My daughter found a friend on the way to camp today; I was happy that she *did* 🦗
Electrofishing to study Minnesota’s native rough fish! Video by @noorwrites.bsky.social @startribune.com accompanying @lollardfish.bsky.social’s story on @garlab.bsky.social conservation research! Story Link: www.startribune.com/fishing-angl...
From the GARgantuan to the handheld! Over the past 8 months we’ve encountered our largest gar (Alligator Gar in October) to one of the smallest (Shortnose Gar, today). My hand for “scale.”
CANNOT believe I didn’t remember to get your book signed on THIS day or when you were in my office! Guess we’ll just have to connect again 😎👍
Native rough fish research enlists Minnesota anglers www.outdoornews.com/2026/06/25/n... Story in Outdoor News (print too!) about @garlab.bsky.social collaboration with citizen science anglers and @bellmuseum.bsky.social for native fish outreach & conservation! By Justin Runberg
Can confirm freshwater folks do return in one piece after marine research trip with @whysharksmatter.bsky.social. Also note David was willing to “vandalize” his team’s own research vessel for anti-gar propaganda 😅😅😅
Native rough fish story by @lollardfish.bsky.social in today’s Star Tribune! Like our favorite living fossils, PRINT media is persistent and probably even more relevant in these AI times 📰👍
Indeed, gar are good to eat! Popular food fish in many parts of Mexico and Central America. They have boneless “back strap” white meat; good in stew, smoked, curry, fried, grilled, empanadas, tamales (I’ve tried all these) 🐟🍽️👍
“The Reflecting Pool merely adopted the algae, Gar was born in it, molded by it”
Do NOT listen to Big Shark & @whysharksmatter.bsky.social propaganda🦈 INSTEAD, fill the Reflecting Pool with GARS; they breathe air, live in fresh or saltwater, have armored scales, and poisonous eggs.They’ll keep costs down and Kid Rock out. I have an unbiased, no-bid recommendation for this job.
FIFA x @garlab.bsky.social MEXICO: Tropical, Spotted, Longnose, and Alligator Gars 4/5
FIFA x @garlab.bsky.social USA: Spotted, Longnose, Shortnose, Florida, and Alligator Gars 3/5
FIFA x @garlab.bsky.social CANADA: Longnose Gar & Spotted Gar 2/5
The collab you didn’t know you needed! To celebrate the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, @garlab.bsky.social presents to you the 7 gar species of North America! ⚽️🐟🌎 1/5
This friend let me get up real close with my phone for a few shots! Golden [dragon] hour🐉🪰