Teleostei (teleosts) > Elopiformes (Tarpons and tenpounders) > Megalopidae (Tarpons)
Etymology: Megalops: Greek, megas, megalos = great + Greek, ops = appearance (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Broussonet.

Marine; brackish; freshwater; benthopelagic; amphidromous; depth range 1 - 50 m (Ref. 86942); tropical; 34°N - 37°S16°E - 130°W.

Indo-Pacific: Persian Gulf (Ref. 68964), Red Sea and Natal, South Africa (Ref. 3969) to the Society Islands, north to southern Korea, south to the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819) and New South Wales. Restricted to high islands (Palau, Caroline and Mariana islands) in Micronesia. Reported as far inland as the lower Shire in Malawi and the Save-Runde junction in Zimbabwe (Ref. 7248, 52193). Widespread in the Lower Zambezi River channels up to Marromeu and in the Micelo River up to Malingapanzi (Ref. 39494). South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and East China Sea(Ref. 33302).

Maturity: L_m ?, range 25 - ? cm
Max length: 150 cm TL male/unsexed (Ref. 1479); common length: 30.0 cm SL male/unsexed (Ref. 7017); common length: 45.5 cm SL (female); max. published weight: 18.0 kg (Ref. 13337); max. reported age: 44 years (Ref. 72487).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 23 - 31. Description: Body streamlined and compressed (Ref. 52193). Eye large; mouth large, lower jaw projects beyond snout; a bony gular plate present between the jaw bones; teeth extremely fine (Ref. 52193, 10982). Dorsal fin with 16-21 rays; anal fin with 23-31 rays; dorsal fin with last fin ray extended into a long filament, directly over pelvic fins; pectoral fins low on side of body near ventral margin; abdominal pelvic fins with 9 or more rays; caudal fin deeply forked (Ref. 52193, 10982). Scales large; lateral line scales 36-42; prominent elongate scales at base of paired fins; head without scales (Ref. 52193, 10982). Can tolerate oxygen-poor water by 'breathing' air into a modified lung-like swimbladder (Ref. 10982).

Colouration: Blue-green dorsally; silver on sides (Ref. 10982).

Adults are generally found at sea, but young inhabit river mouths, inner bays, and mangrove forests. In freshwater, they occur in rivers, lagoons, lakes, and swampy backwaters (Ref. 2847, 44894). Tolerate a wide pH range (5.2-9.1) (Ref. 44894) and salinities from 0 to 100. Mainly diurnal (Ref. 7017). Predaceous, feeding mainly on fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Breed offshore, possibly throughout the year. Larvae are transparent and resemble larval eels (Ref. 13337), but with a forked tail (Ref. 167). Juveniles commonly enter freshwater (Ref. 44894, 48635) in clear or turbid water (Ref. 44894). Known to breath air, rising regularly to the surface to do so. Cultured in ponds, the fry being sourced from the coasts (Ref. 7050). Popular angling fish (Ref. 3969). Edible but not esteemed (Ref. 3969). Caught by gill nets, seines, and trawls, and by hook-and-line; marketed fresh and dried salted (Ref. 10982).

Whitehead, P.J.P. 1984 Megalopidae. In W. Fischer and G. Bianchi (eds.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean fishing area 51. Vol. 3. [pag. var.]. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 3463)

  Data deficient (DD); date assessed: June 29 2016

Not Evaluated

Not Evaluated

  Harmless

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Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 19.8 - 27.6, mean 24.4 °C (based on 501 cells).

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 1.002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00741 (0.00528 - 0.01040), b=3.07 (2.97 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.5 ±0.1 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm<=4).

Prior r = 0.57, 95% CL = 0.37 - 0.85, Based on 2 data-limited stock assessments.

Fishing vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).

Climate vulnerability (Ref. 125649): High to very high vulnerability (75 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Low; Reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species.

Nutrients (Ref. 124155): Calcium = 44.8 [26.3, 77.6] mg/100g; Iron = 0.672 [0.410, 1.048] mg/100g; Protein = 17.1 [14.3, 19.7] %; Omega3 = 0.217 [0.122, 0.396] g/100g; Selenium = 71.1 [41.2, 135.1] μg/100g; VitaminA = 15 [6, 33] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.06 [0.78, 1.46] mg/100g (wet weight);