Indo-Pacific Tarpon
Megalops cyprinoides
- Group: Other
- Typical depth: 1–50 m
- Max size: 1.5 m
- For divers: safe
- IUCN status: DD
The Indo Pacific tarpon can gulp air at the surface using a swimbladder that works like a lung, which lets it survive in stagnant backwaters, swamps and even near fresh ponds. Adults live mostly at sea while the young grow up in river mouths, bays and mangroves. It tolerates salinity from fresh to twice that of seawater and reaches about a metre and a half.
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Teleostei › Elopiformes › Megalopidae › Megalops
Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 212253.
FAQ
- How deep does the Indo-Pacific Tarpon live?
- The Indo-Pacific Tarpon (Megalops cyprinoides) is typically found at 1–50 m.
- Is the Indo-Pacific Tarpon dangerous to divers?
- The Indo-Pacific Tarpon is harmless to divers.
- How big does the Indo-Pacific Tarpon get?
- The Indo-Pacific Tarpon grows to about 1.5 m.