Ladyfishes and Tarpons: Elopiformes - Behavior And Reproduction, Ladyfishes, Tarpons, And People, Atlantic Tarpon (megalops Atlanticus): Species Account - PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS

ATLANTIC TARPON (Megalops atlanticus): SPECIES ACCOUNT

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Tarpons and ladyfishes are long, silver fishes with large upturned mouths, large eyes, and deeply forked tails. They have a long, bony plate between the lower jawbones.

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Tarpons and ladyfishes live all over the world.

HABITAT

Tarpons and ladyfishes live in seas that are tropical, meaning that the average annual temperature is more than 68°F (20°C), and subtropical, meaning that the average annual temperature is 55°F to 68°F (13°C to 20°C). They live near the coast, often in estuaries (EHS-chew-air-eez), or the wide parts of rivers where the river meets the sea. Both tarpons and ladyfishes can live in water with a small amount of salt.

DIET

Tarpons and ladyfishes eat fish and crustaceans (krus-TAY-shuns), or water-dwelling animals with shells and jointed legs, such as crabs.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Tarpons and ladyfishes are not threatened or endangered.