The tarpons (Spanish "sábalos") are large coastal fish notable as a prize of anglers. There are two species in a single genus Megalops in the family MegalopidaeAtlantic, and the other to the Indo-Pacific area. Both are large silvery fishes.

The largest tarpon caught in the USA since 1975 was 180lbs caucht by Colin Dredge off Key West on 6th June 2006.

The name derives from the Greek, mega meaning great and ellops a sort of serpent.

Species

• The Atlantic Tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, a famous sport fish.
• The Indo-Pacific tarpon, Megalops cyprinoides is a lesser-known and smaller fish.

External links

• Tarpon Biological Profile from the Ichthyology Department at the Florida Museum of Natural History

References

Elopiformes | Fish of the Pacific | Fish of the Atlantic | Fish of the Indian ocean

Tarpune