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Megalops atlanticus Valenciennes, 1847 Tarpon; Atlantic tarpon

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Higher taxa:  Life   Vertebrata   Fish   Megalopidae   Megalops   Global map IDnature guides: Fish, Fish_species_NCSM, SFTEP We parsed the following live from the Web into this page. Such content is managed by its original site and not cached on Discover Life. Please send feedback and corrections directly to the source. See original regarding copyrights and terms of use. FishBase

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© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 Megalops atlanticus

español

Overview

Main identification features use genus Body elongate, compressed; mouth large, very oblique, opens above; wide gill openings; 1 dorsal fin, rearwards, with long filament at rear; tail large, deeply forked; pelvic fins on abdomen; scales very large, smooth, 41-48 on lateral line; lateral line complete, straight, pores with branched tubes; pelvic fin origin before dorsal fin; dorsal 13-16 rays. 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. Attributes Abundance: Common. Cites: Not listed. Climate Zone: Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo). Depth Range Max: 30 m. Depth Range Min: 0 m. Diet: bony fishes; mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs). Eastern Pacific Range: Northern limit=9; Southern limit=8; Western limit=-81; Eastern limit=-79; Latitudinal range=1; Longitudinal range=2. Egg Type: Pelagic; Pelagic larva. Feeding Group: Carnivore. FishBase Habitat: Pelagic. Global Endemism: West Atlantic Introducee; TEP non-endemic; All species. Habitat: Estuary; Water column; Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom); Freshwater. Inshore Offshore: Inshore; Inshore Only. IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed. Length Max: 250 cm. Regional Endemism: Continent only; Continent; Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) non-endemic; Eastern Pacific non-endemic; All species. Residency: Resident. Salinity: Brackish; Freshwater; Marine. Water Column Position: Mid Water; Near Bottom; Near Surface; Surface; Water column only;

Names

Scientific source:       Integrated Taxonomic Information System

Links to other sites

Fishbase Catalog of Fishes Integrated Taxonomic Information System

References

Castri-Aguirre, J.L., Espinoza-Pérez, H. and Schmitter-Soto, J.J., 2002., Lista sitemática, biogeográfica y ecológica de la ictiofauna estuarino lagunar y vicaria de México. En: Lozano-Vilano, M. L. (Ed.). Libro Jubilar en Honor al Dr. Salvador Contreras Balderas., Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León:117-142. Castro-Aguirre, J.L., 1999., Ictiofauna estuarino-lagunar y vicaria de México., Editorial Limusa S.A. de C.V.: 1-629pp. Cuvier , G. and Valenciennes, A., 1847., Histoire naturelle des poissons. Tome dix-neuvieme. Suite du livre dix-neuvieme. Brochets ou Lucioides. Livre vingtieme. De quelques familles de Malacopterygiens, intermediaires entre les Brochets et les Clupes., Histoire Naturelle Des Poissons, 19:i-xix + 1-544 + 6pp. Fowler, H.W., 1916., Cold-Blooded Vertebrates from Costa Rica and the Canal Zone., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 68:389-414. McCosker , J. E. and Dawson, C. E., 1975., Biotic passage through the Panama Canal, with particular reference to fishes., Marine Biology, 30:343-351. Meek , S.E. and Hildebrand, S.F., 1923., The marine fishes of Panama. Part I., Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser. Publ., XV:1-330.

Acknowledgements

Ross Robertson, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute I thank Ashley MacDonald and John Pickering, University of Georgia, for technical support in building this page.