Atlantic Tarpon (North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher)

Atlantic Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Summary ⁴

The Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) inhabits coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers. tarpons feed almost exclusively on schooling fish and occasionally crabs. tarpons are capable of filling their swim bladder with air, like a primitive lung. This gives the tarpon a predatory advantage when oxygen levels in the water are low. Tarpons have been recorded at up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in length and weighing up to 161 kg (355 lb). The Atlantic tarpon is also known as...

Description ⁵

Common names: tarpon (English), sábalo (Espanol), tarpón (Espanol)

Megalops atlanticus Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1847

Atlantic tarpon

Body oblong but elongate, strongly compressed; head short, deep, profile straight above, convex below; eye large; mouth large, oblique, opening above, lower jaw projecting; a long bony plate between lower jaws; teeth small, simple, on jaws, roof of mouth, tongue and lower base of gill arches; one dorsal fin, 13-16 rays, last filamentous; anal fin base much larger than dorsal fin base; pelvic fins on abdomen; tail fin large, deeply forked; lateral line complete, tubes with branches radiating over surface of lateral line scales; scales very large, smooth; 41-48 on lateral line.

Bright silver, back greyish, fins grey.

        Size: 250 cm; 128.5 kg.


        Habitat: estuaries, occasionally around reefs; enters freshwater.

        Depth: 0-30 m.

Western Atlantic; presumably arrived in the eastern Pacific by passing through the Panama Canal; may now be established in the Gulf of Panama; not infrequently available at Panama City fishmarket.