Details
Megalops atlanticus
The Atlantic tarpon is a large fish that moves between coasts and freshwaters. Active across day and night, it can gulp air and tolerate low-oxygen water.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses coastal seas, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons, and freshwater. Young fish can occupy quiet, oxygen-poor habitats.
Length is about 120-250 cm and weight about 20-160 kg. Huge silver scales, an upturned mouth, and an extended rear dorsal-fin ray are distinctive.
It swims alone or in loose groups and sometimes rolls at the surface to breathe air. Tarpon roam broad coastal feeding areas and are powerful jumpers.
It is carnivorous, eating fish and crustaceans. Juveniles take smaller aquatic animals, while adults capture larger prey along coasts.
Spawning occurs offshore, and ribbon-like larvae drift toward coastal and estuarine nursery areas. The species uses both fresh and salt water as it grows.
Its status is listed as Least Concern. Famous as a sport fish, it still relies on healthy estuaries, mangroves, and other nursery habitats.
