618:. Unlike the larvae of other fish these larvae do not eat as their long slender bodies have very low energy requirements. While larvae the Atlantic tarpon's teeth grow pointed forward to keep debris out of their mouth. The leptocephali develop into juveniles which make their way inshore, often into stagnant water with a very low oxygen content which can't be tolerated by most of their predators. When they are about three years old Atlantic tarpon migrate from these backwater habitats to a variety of nearshore ones, growing rapidly but primarily in length as opposed to girth. At around eight years of age an Atlantic tarpon reaches its sexual maturity and begins to gain length as well as girth. Growth rates also diverge at this point with males growing much slower than females. Sexually mature Atlantic tarpon will begin migrating to join
486:
147:
122:
103:
540:
532:
504:, not only because of their size and their accessible haunts, but also because of their fighting spirit when hooked; they are very strong, making spectacular leaps into the air. They are the largest species targeted by fly fishermen in shallow water. The flesh is undesirable, commonly described as being smelly and bony. In
547:
Since tarpons are not commercially valuable as a food fish, very little has been documented concerning their geographical distribution and migrations. They inhabit both sides of the
Atlantic Ocean. Their range in the eastern Atlantic has been reliably established from Senegal to the Congo. Tarpons
586:
and back for over 80 years. Since tarpons tolerate a wide range of salinity and are opportunistic feeders, their migrations are limited only by water temperatures. They prefer water temperatures of 22 to 28 °C (72 to 82 °F); below 16 °C (61 °F) they become inactive, and
548:
inhabiting the western
Atlantic are principally found to populate warmer coastal waters primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and the West Indies. Nonetheless, they are regularly caught by anglers at
361:
The tarpon has a reputation for great aerobatics, attaining astonishing size, and having impressive armored scales. It is generally considered to be of poor food quality, but it is highly valued as a
391:
are low. In appearance, it is greenish or bluish on top and silver on the sides. The large mouth is turned upwards and the lower jaw contains an elongated, bony plate. The last ray of the
474:
Atlantic tarpon adapt well to urban and suburban environments due to their tolerance for boat traffic and low water quality. Around humans
Atlantic tarpon are primarily nocturnal.
477:
While the
Atlantic tarpon is rarely consumed in the United States, subsistence and commercial fisheries exist in a number of countries. Both their meat and roe are consumed.
862:
376:
It has been recorded at up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in length and weighing up to 161 kg (355 lb). Males rarely weigh more than 100 pounds.
619:
1141:
Castellanos-Galindo, Gustavo A.; et al. (2019). "Atlantic Tarpon in the
Tropical Eastern Pacific 80 years after it first crossed the Panama Canal".
725:
1446:
1176:
Hildebrand, Samuel F. (1939). "The Panama Canal as a
Passageway for Fishes, with Lists and Remarks on the Fishes and Invertebrates Observed".
1521:
606:
Atlantic tarpon breed in spawning aggregations in the open ocean. Atlantic tarpon share a unique larval stage known as a leptocephalus with
571:
Atlantic tarpon are highly migratory and often cross international boundaries. This introduces challenges in management and conservation.
1627:
1420:
971:
794:
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350:. It is found in the Atlantic Ocean, typically in tropical and subtropical regions, though it has been reported as far north as
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they are a revered game fish with only potential state records (fish over 75 inches) allowed to be kept.
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588:
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temperatures under 4 °C (39 °F) can be lethal. A large tarpon community is found in the
373:
Atlantic tarpon evolved approximately 18 million years ago and are one of the oldest living fish.
679:
Adams, A.; Guindon, K.; Horodysky, A.; MacDonald, T.; McBride, R.; Shenker, J.; Ward, R. (2019).
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1565:
1500:
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257:
512:, a special permit is required to kill and keep a tarpon, so most tarpon fishing there is
8:
762:
636:
111:
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1158:
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and for decorative purposes since pre-history. Their crushed up scales also feature in
266:
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stage absorbing nutrients directly from the water, those in the juvenile stage eating
354:
and the
Atlantic coast of southern France, and as far south as Argentina. As with all
1547:
1368:
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513:
1373:
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863:"New study reveals international movements of Atlantic Tarpon, need for protection"
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388:
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and other small prey, and adults primarily consuming fish, crabs, and shrimp.
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1485:
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1305:
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790:
689:
631:
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493:
411:
131:
60:
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The diet of the
Atlantic tarpon changes as the fish grows with those in the
1464:
575:
446:
380:
978:. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2006-04-27. Archived from
564:. In the Gulf of Mexico there are two distinct populations divided by the
1508:
1433:
1314:
553:
467:
The tarpon is the official state saltwater fish of the
American state of
415:
355:
351:
198:
35:
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Scientific studies indicate schools have routinely migrated through the
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1412:
600:
427:
392:
80:
45:
102:
1438:
561:
501:
362:
158:
85:
1276:
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The
Atlantic tarpon was first described scientifically by zoologist
1407:
1299:
803:
767:
641:
611:
607:
579:
523:
Tarpon are known by English speaking anglers as “The Silver King."
178:
75:
70:
55:
50:
40:
1257:
539:
358:, it spawns at sea. Its diet includes small fish and crustaceans.
1599:
596:
583:
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468:
335:
90:
65:
28:
1539:
1386:
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404:
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218:
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168:
1573:
1056:"A Crappy Boat Ride, a Record Catch and a Fly-Fishing Frenzy"
517:
395:
is much longer than the others, reaching nearly to the tail.
343:
672:
615:
384:
662:"†Megalops atlanticus Valenciennes 1847 (ray-finned fish)"
526:
1197:"Alone in Tarpon Paradise Along with Trinidad and Tobago"
531:
1136:
1134:
1131:
403:
The Atlantic tarpon's most significant predators are
437:
An Atlantic tarpon is depicted in the fresco on the
500:Tarpons are considered one of the great saltwater
1224:"Tarpon in Pacific Costa Rica Focus of New Study"
1079:
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1619:
822:
820:
818:
816:
814:
704:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T191823A174796143.en
426:The scales of Atlantic tarpon have been used as
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856:
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852:
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811:
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760:
421:
387:. This gives it a predatory advantage when
1175:
120:
101:
1258:Bonefish and Tarpon Conservation Research
702:
999:
898:. The University of Southern Mississippi
538:
530:
484:
789:
599:a population has become established in
527:Geographical distribution and migration
1620:
1221:
1194:
1113:"Texas Tarpon: The Mighty Silver King"
1026:
826:
1281:
1280:
1143:Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries
1083:
919:"Tarpon remain a fascinating species"
886:
884:
490:The Leap of the Silver King -- Tarpon
1605:89832346-BECA-45A5-BE5D-D111DA7EBF70
1579:26061E66-6643-8A3F-9D69-A6855ABF8FF3
464:being inspired by their large eyes.
1002:"Tarpon Fishing Grounds in Alabama"
976:Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors
916:
783:
690:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
535:Illustration of an Atlantic Tarpon.
379:A tarpon is capable of filling its
13:
1110:
943:
881:
14:
1674:
1246:
1222:Staley, Todd (28 February 2018).
1053:
972:"Official Alabama Saltwater Fish"
754:
1628:IUCN Red List vulnerable species
1084:Moore, Chester (5 August 2021).
1000:Kirkland, Walter (17 May 2014).
860:
145:
33:
1215:
1188:
1169:
1104:
1047:
1020:
993:
964:
937:
733:Deeplyfish- fishes of the world
480:
1643:Fish of the Dominican Republic
1195:HEAVEY, BILL (26 April 2004).
910:
827:Larkin, Michael (5 May 2015).
761:Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017).
718:
654:
368:
334:that inhabits coastal waters,
1:
647:
1648:Euryhaline fish of Nicaragua
1119:. Texas Wildlife Association
1027:Conner, Mike (11 May 2020).
7:
829:"The Science Behind Tarpon"
625:
398:
383:with air, like a primitive
365:by recreational fishermen.
10:
1679:
1638:Fish of the Atlantic Ocean
1155:10.1007/s11160-019-09565-z
1033:www.saltwatersportsman.com
833:www.saltwatersportsman.com
434:, particularly in Brazil.
389:oxygen levels in the water
346:. It is also known as the
1289:
272:
265:
247:
240:
142:Scientific classification
140:
118:
109:
100:
23:
1230:. Sport Fishing Magazine
1092:. Sport Fishing Magazine
1008:. Sport Fishing Magazine
793:; Pauly, Daniel (eds.).
422:Relationship with humans
1086:"Tracking Texas Tarpon"
1006:www.sportfishingmag.com
946:"Michelangelo's Tarpon"
697:: e.T191823A174796143.
566:Mississippi River Delta
1658:Fish described in 1847
1653:Fish of Lake Nicaragua
1201:www.fieldandstream.com
1117:www.texas-wildlife.org
835:. Salt Water Sportsman
544:
536:
497:
1561:Paleobiology Database
1273:on Sealife Collection
1035:. Saltwater Sportsman
1029:"Urban Tarpon on Fly"
869:. University of Miami
620:spawning aggregations
542:
534:
488:
1062:. Sports Illustrated
496:for Atlantic tarpon)
454:Achille Valenciennes
432:traditional medicine
1348:megalops-atlanticus
1335:Megalops_atlanticus
1321:Megalops atlanticus
1291:Megalops atlanticus
1111:Graves, Russell A.
1090:sportfishingmag.com
807:. May 2005 version.
797:Megalops atlanticus
683:Megalops atlanticus
637:Indo-Pacific tarpon
458:Megalops atlanticus
327:Megalops atlanticus
279:(Valenciennes 1847)
251:Megalops atlanticus
112:Conservation status
1663:Symbols of Alabama
1263:2018-12-17 at the
1203:. Field and Stream
742:on 2 December 2017
545:
537:
498:
300:Megalops elongatus
292:Megalops giganteus
233:M. atlanticus
1615:
1614:
1548:Open Tree of Life
1283:Taxon identifiers
1228:ortfishingmag.com
925:. Tampa Bay Times
892:"Atlantic Tarpon"
770:version (02/2017)
514:catch and release
318:
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276:Tarpon atlanticus
135:
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944:Duncan, Norman.
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923:www.tampabay.com
917:Tomalin, Terry.
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735:. Archived from
730:
722:
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676:
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669:
658:
310:
308:Amia subargentea
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27:Temporal range:
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1271:Atlantic tarpon
1265:Wayback Machine
1253:Save the Tarpon
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709:
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628:
560:, and south to
543:Atlantic tarpon
529:
492:(depicts early
483:
424:
401:
371:
332:ray-finned fish
322:Atlantic tarpon
284:Clupea gigantea
261:
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144:
136:
125:
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114:
96:
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93:
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68:
63:
58:
53:
48:
43:
38:
32:
25:
24:Atlantic tarpon
17:
16:Species of fish
12:
11:
5:
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1247:External links
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1149:(2): 401–416.
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1054:Burke, Monte.
1046:
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950:midcurrent.com
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909:
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867:news.miami.edu
846:
810:
791:Froese, Rainer
782:
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671:
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593:Lake Nicaragua
552:and as far as
528:
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443:Sistine Chapel
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1007:
1003:
996:
982:on 2017-05-31
981:
977:
973:
967:
951:
947:
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913:
897:
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868:
864:
861:Udel, Diana.
857:
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834:
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823:
821:
819:
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815:
806:
805:
800:
798:
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786:
771:
769:
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763:"Megalopidae"
757:
738:
734:
727:
726:"Megalopidae"
721:
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696:
692:
691:
686:
684:
675:
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653:
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632:Flats fishing
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550:Cape Hatteras
541:
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511:
507:
503:
495:
494:sport fishing
491:
487:
478:
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472:
470:
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463:
459:
455:
450:
449:around 1510.
448:
445:completed by
444:
440:
435:
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429:
419:
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413:
412:leptocephalus
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242:Binomial name
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37:
30:
22:
19:
1290:
1232:. Retrieved
1227:
1217:
1205:. Retrieved
1200:
1190:
1181:
1177:
1171:
1146:
1142:
1121:. Retrieved
1116:
1106:
1094:. Retrieved
1089:
1064:. Retrieved
1059:
1049:
1037:. Retrieved
1032:
1022:
1010:. Retrieved
1005:
995:
984:. Retrieved
980:the original
975:
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954:. Retrieved
952:. Midcurrent
949:
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896:gcrl.usm.edu
895:
871:. Retrieved
866:
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737:the original
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694:
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605:
589:Rio San Juan
576:Panama Canal
573:
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489:
481:Game fishing
476:
473:
466:
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457:
451:
447:Michelangelo
436:
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407:and humans.
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381:swim bladder
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258:Valenciennes
250:
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1633:Megalopidae
1509:NatureServe
1434:iNaturalist
1315:Wikispecies
1123:10 December
1066:10 December
1012:10 December
929:10 December
873:10 December
839:10 December
710:19 November
554:Nova Scotia
502:game fishes
456:in 1847 as
416:zooplankton
369:Description
356:elopiformes
352:Nova Scotia
348:silver king
311:Browne 1789
303:Girard 1859
295:(Shaw 1804)
209:Megalopidae
199:Elopiformes
1622:Categories
1269:Photos of
1060:www.si.com
1039:8 December
986:2007-03-18
648:References
601:Costa Rica
428:nail files
393:dorsal fin
127:Vulnerable
1178:Zoologica
1163:139104632
595:. In the
578:from the
562:Argentina
363:game fish
336:estuaries
287:Shaw 1804
227:Species:
165:Kingdom:
159:Eukaryota
1514:2.103709
1452:10157864
1408:FishBase
1300:Wikidata
1261:Archived
1184:: 15–45.
804:FishBase
768:FishBase
642:Milkfish
626:See also
612:ladyfish
608:bonefish
580:Atlantic
462:Megalops
399:Behavior
267:Synonyms
220:Megalops
205:Family:
179:Chordata
175:Phylum:
169:Animalia
155:Domain:
132:IUCN 3.1
31:-recent,
1600:ZooBank
1426:5203123
1306:Q756975
1207:13 July
597:Pacific
584:Pacific
582:to the
558:Bermuda
510:Alabama
506:Florida
469:Alabama
441:of the
439:ceiling
340:lagoons
330:) is a
215:Genus:
195:Order:
185:Class:
130: (
29:Miocene
1592:126430
1553:854190
1540:126430
1491:191823
1478:161116
1400:120709
1387:339927
1343:ARKive
1234:16 May
1161:
1096:16 May
956:18 May
902:18 May
775:18 May
746:18 May
614:, and
405:sharks
344:rivers
342:, and
260:, 1847
1587:WoRMS
1574:Plazi
1566:83218
1498:NAS:
1465:75520
1447:IRMNG
1439:51402
1395:EUNIS
1374:3YVJ9
1361:29224
1159:S2CID
740:(PDF)
729:(PDF)
518:Texas
516:. In
1535:OBIS
1527:7932
1522:NCBI
1486:IUCN
1473:ITIS
1421:GBIF
1413:1079
1356:BOLD
1236:2022
1209:2021
1125:2020
1098:2022
1068:2020
1041:2020
1014:2020
958:2021
931:2020
904:2021
875:2020
841:2020
777:2017
748:2017
712:2021
695:2019
666:PBDB
616:eels
591:and
508:and
385:lung
320:The
36:PreꞒ
1501:775
1460:ISC
1382:EoL
1369:CoL
1330:ADW
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