Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)

Scientific name: Megalops atlanticus Valenciennes, 1847

Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)

The Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is a freshwater fish of the family Megalopidae.

Biology

Inhabit coastal waters, bays, estuaries, mangrove-lined lagoons, and rivers. Often found in river mouths and bays, entering fresh water. Large schools may frequent particular spots for years. Feed on fishes like sardines, anchovies, Mugilidae, Centropomus, Cichlidae and crabs. The swim bladder, attached to the esophagus, can be filled directly with air and permits the fish to live in oxygen-poor waters. Has high fecundity, a 203 cm female is estimated to produce over 12 million eggs. Spawn in waters which can be temporarily isolated from the open sea. Transparent leptocephalus larvae migrate into estuaries. Famous for its spectacular leaps when hooked. Marketed fresh or salted. Large scales are used in ornamen

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Megalops atlanticus
Family
Megalopidae (Tarpons)
Order
Elopiformes (Tarpons and Tenpounders)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
250
Common length
130
Depth range
0–30 m (0–98 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous; depth range 0 - 30 m, usually 0 - 15 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Angola, with exceptional occurrences in Portugal, Azores and Atlantic coast of southern France. Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to Bahia, Brazil, with occasional occurrences off the American coast northward to Nova Scotia, Canada and southward to Canan?ia, Brazil and Argentina. Throughout Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Eastern Central Pacific: Cobia Island in Panama via the Panama Canal.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.07-0.10; tmax=55; Fec>1 million)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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