Pejelagarto
(Catán, Manjuarí, Alligator Fish, Lizardfish, Tropical Gar)
Pejelagarto is an unusual fish species inhabiting the freshwater lagoons, lakes, rivers, and marshes along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, particularly throughout Tabasco. Dubbed a "living fossil," the endemic fish has existed for a staggering 100 million years now, throughout which it has remained relatively unaffected by any evolutionary change.
The carnivorous fish has a long and heavy body, with fins positioned low, and a distinctive large snout containing many sharp, needle-like teeth, reminiscent of an alligator’s, which is how it got its name (pejelagarto, meaning alligator fish).
Typically brown or olive, the fish is spotted and has rough, silvery scales all over its body. Five varieties of pejelagarto have been distinguished, with the Atractosteus tropicus being the predominant variety inhabiting the Mexican waters. Read more
Praised as a culinary delicacy of Tabasco cuisine, pejelagarto is a staple in local households. It is used in a great variety of traditional dishes such as pejelagarto asado, pescadillas, empanadas, tamales, and a traditional stew known as chimrol.
It's most typically roasted (asado) and served with salt, lime juice, and chile peppers, then folded into a tortilla. Unfortunately, this ancient fish has been under threat of extinction due to overfishing.
