Country Species Summary

Megalops cyprinoides in Palau
Indo-Pacific tarpon

Megalops cyprinoides (Broussonet, 1782)
Family:	Megalopidae (Tarpons)	picture (Mecyp_u0.jpg) by Shao, K.T.
Order:	Elopiformes (tarpons and tenpounders)
Class:	Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name:	Indo-Pacific tarpon
Max. size:	150 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 1479); max. published weight: 18.0 kg (Ref. 13337); max. reported age: 44 years
Environment:	benthopelagic; amphidromous ; depth range - 50 m
Climate:	tropical; 22 - 24°C; 34°N - 28°S
Global Importance:	fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial
Resilience:	Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm<=4)
Distribution:	Indo-Pacific: 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). 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).
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 23-31. Lower jaw projects beyond snout; a bony gular plate present between the jaw bones. Last fin ray of dorsal long and filamentous; ventrally located pectoral fins; abdominal pelvic fins with 9 or more rays. Branchiostegals more than 23. Scales large. Color blue-green dorsally; silvery on sides. Can tolerate oxygen-poor water by `breathing' air into a lung-like air bladder. Also Ref. 3969.
Biology:	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)
Threatened:	Not Evaluated, see IUCN Red List , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous:	harmless
Coordinator:
Main Ref:	Whitehead, P.J.P.. 1984. (Ref. 3463)
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Palau country information
Common names:	[ No common name ]	Ref:
Status:	native	Ref: Myers, R.F., 1999
Salinity:	freshwater, brackish, marine
Uses:	no uses
Comments:	Also Ref. 6371.
Country Information:	www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ps.html
Occurrences:	Occurrences Point map
Main Ref:	Myers, R.F., 1991
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Modified: Pablico, Grace Tolentino

Entered: Garilao, Cristina V.

CGNET - US

Page created by: Eli, 20.10.03, last modified by Eli, 26.06.07

	Ref.:		Glossary
		(e.g. 9948)		(e.g. cephalopods)
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