If you ever have a chance to see the bony plates on the ithsmus, it's actually quite easy to identify them. They are dark in colour on white skin. When you move the operculum (gill plate) out of the way they are right there in the "chin" area. You can also feel them when you run your finger over them. I've only ever seen one in the wild and a few in captivity. Most of the time Florida gar aren't as vibrant in colour as spotted gar are. Not that you can go by colour, but it's a start.