Megalops atlanticus, Tarpon : fisheries, aquaculture, gamefish, aquarium

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Megalops atlanticus Valenciennes, 1847

Tarpon
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Megalops atlanticus   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Megalops atlanticus (Tarpon)
Megalops atlanticus
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Classification / Names Κοινά ονόματα | Συνώνυμα | Catalog of Fishes(Γένος, Είδη) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

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

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Οικολογία

Θαλασσινό(ά); Γλυκού νερού; Υφάλμυρο Υφαλόφιλο(α); αμφίδρομο (Ref. 51243); εύρος βάθους 0 - 40 m (Ref. 3789), usually 0 - 15 m (Ref. 42064). Subtropical; 10°C - 40°C (Ref. 93687); 49°N - 44°S, 99°W - 14°E (Ref. 55254)

Κατανομή Χώρες | Περιοχές FAO | Οικοσυστήματα | Παρουσίες | Point map | Εισαγωγές | Faunafri

Atlantic Ocean: from Nova Scotia, Bermuda and southward to Brazil in western Atlantic Ocean (Ref. 3234, 4446), where it it also found throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean (Ref. 26938); from Mauritania to Angola in eastern Atlantic Ocean (Ref. 2845, 3234, 4446, 81266); with exceptional records in Portugal, Azores and Atlantic coast of southern France (Ref. 3234, 4446). Crossed the Panama canal and was caught at Coiba Island in the Pacific Ocean (Ref. 4446).

Length at first maturity / Μέγεθος / Βάρος / Age

Maturity: Lm 160.0, range 130 - 128.5 cm
Max length : 250 cm TL αρσενικό/απροσδιόριστο; (Ref. 2683); common length : 130 cm TL αρσενικό/απροσδιόριστο; (Ref. 2683); μεγ. δημοσιευμένο βάρος: 161.0 kg (Ref. 26340); μεγ. αναφερόμενη ηλικία: 55 έτη (Ref. 9975)

Short description Μορφολογία | Μορφομετρία

Ραχιαίες άκανθες (συνολικά): 0; Μαλακές ραχιαίες ακτίνες (συνολικά): 13-16; Εδρικές άκανθες 0; Μαλακές εδρικές ακτίνες: 22 - 25; Σπόνδυλοι: 53 - 57. Diagnosis: It is characterized by the anterior position of pelvic fin insertions in relation to dorsal-fin origin, and by some morphometric counts: 13-16 dorsal-fin rays, 40-48 lateral-line scales and 53-57 vertebrae (Ref. 2845, 81266).

Βιολογία     Γλωσσάρι (π.χ. epibenthic)

Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Inhabit coastal waters, bays, estuaries, mangrove-lined lagoons, and rivers (Ref. 3789, 27188). Often found in river mouths and bays, entering fresh water (Ref. 27227). Lower depth limit at 40m (Ref. 118621). Large schools may frequent particular spots for years (Ref. 9710). Feed on fishes like sardines, anchovies, Mugilidae, Centropomus, Cichlidae (mainly those forming schools) and crabs (Ref. 3789, 27188). The swim bladder, attached to the esophagus, can be filled directly with air and permits the fish to live in oxygen-poor waters. Has high fecundity, a 203 cm female is estimated to produce over 12 million eggs (Ref. 10863). Spawn in waters which can be temporarily isolated from the open sea (Ref. 27188). Transparent leptocephalus larvae migrate into estuaries (Ref. 57533). Famous for its spectacular leaps when hooked. Marketed fresh or salted (Ref. 3789). Large scales are used in ornamental work and in preparation of artificial pearls (Ref. 3789). Used to be cultured commercially in Colombia (Ref. 7306). Highly appreciated by sport fishers. The flesh is also highly appreciated despite its being bony (Ref. 27188). The world record for hook and line is 283 lbs. from Lake Maricaibo, Venezuela (Ref. 13442).

Life cycle and mating behavior Γεννητική Ωρίμανση | Αναπαραγωγή | Γεννοβολία | Αβγά | Γονιμότητα | Προνύμφες

Some populations may complete life cycle in freshwater, e.g. Lake Nicaragua in Central America, and Deep Lake in Florida (Ref. 4639).

Main reference Upload your references | Αναφορές | Συντονιστής | Συνεργάτες

Hureau, J.-C., 1984. Megalopidae. p. 226-227. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1. (Ref. 3234)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Ευάλωτο, βλέπε Κόκκινη Λίστα (VU) (A2bd); Date assessed: 12 June 2018

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 31172)





Human uses

αλιεία: Εμπορικό(ά); Υδατοκαλλιέργειες: Εμπορικό(ά); αλιεία αναψυχής: ναί; Ενυδρείο: Δημόσια ενυδρεία
FAO - αλιεία: landings; Publication: search | FishSource | Η θάλασσα γύρω μας

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Διαδικτυακές πηγές

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 19.6 - 28, mean 27 °C (based on 1409 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 1.0020   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01023 (0.00419 - 0.02501), b=3.02 (2.81 - 3.23), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).
Τροφικό Επίπεδο (Ref. 69278):  4.5   ±0.0 se; based on diet studies.
Ελαστικότητα (Ref. 120179):  Χαμηλό, ελάχιστος χρόνος για διπλασιασμό πληθυσμού 4,5 - 14 έτη (K=0.07-0.10; tmax=55; Fec>1 million).
Prior r = 0.34, 95% CL = 0.21 - 0.55, Based on 1 stock assessment.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Very high vulnerability (76 of 100).
Climate Vulnerability (Ref. 125649):  High to very high vulnerability (67 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Medium.
Nutrients (Ref. 124155):  Calcium = 8.83 [4.70, 21.29] mg/100g; Iron = 0.421 [0.226, 0.795] mg/100g; Protein = 19.5 [16.7, 22.0] %; Omega3 = 0.21 [0.11, 0.40] g/100g; Selenium = 21.2 [9.5, 44.3] μg/100g; VitaminA = 33 [9, 118] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.458 [0.310, 0.701] mg/100g (wet weight);