Indo-Pacific tarpon
📖 Overview
Obligate air-breathing ; 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 . Tolerate a wide pH range (5.2-9.1) and salinities from 0 to 100. Mainly diurnal . Predaceous, feeding mainly on fishes and crustaceans . Breed offshore, possibly throughout the year. Larvae are transparent and resemble larval eels , but with a forked tail . Juveniles commonly enter freshwater in clear or turbid water . Known to breath air, rising regularly to the surface to do so. Cultured in ponds, the fry being sourced from the coasts . Popular angling fish . Edible but not esteemed . Caught by gill nets, seines, and trawls, and by hook-and-line; marketed fresh and dried salted .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 23 - 31. : elongated; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Indo-Pacific tarpon is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; catadromous ; depth range 1 - 50 m . Tropical; 34°N - 37°S, 16°E - 130°W South Africa (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbania staigeri | Castelnau | 1878 | Synonym |
| Clupea cyprinoides | Broussonet | 1782 | Synonym |
| Clupea gigantea | Shaw | 1804 | Synonym |
| Clupea thrissoides | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Cyprinodon cundinga | Hamilton | 1822 | Synonym |
| Elops cundinga | Hamilton | 1822 | Synonym |
| Elops cyprinoides | Broussonet | 1782 | Synonym |
| Magalops cyprinoides | Broussonet | 1782 | Synonym |
| Megalops cundinga | Hamilton | 1822 | Synonym |
| Megalops curtifilis | Richardson | 1846 | Synonym |
| Megalops cyoprinoides | Broussonet | 1782 | Synonym |
| Megalops filamentosus | Lacepède | 1803 | Synonym |
| Megalops giganteus | Shaw | 1804 | Synonym |
| Megalops indicus | Valenciennes | 1847 | Synonym |
| Megalops kundinga | Bleeker | 1866 | Synonym |
| Megalops macrophthalmus | Bleeker | 1851 | Synonym |
| Megalops macropterus | Bleeker | 1866 | Synonym |
| Megalops oligolepis | Bleeker | 1866 | Synonym |
| Megalops setipinnis | Richardson | 1843 | Synonym |
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 61 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Indo-Pacific tarpon ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.