Indo-Pacific Tarpon

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It resembles the much larger Atlantic tarpon in appearance, with silver sides and an olive-green top. The big mouth is angled upward, and there is a lengthy, bony plate in the lower jaw. Reaching almost to the tail, the final ray of the dorsal fin is significantly longer than the others. It can take in oxygen from its swim bladder and fill it with air. Freshwater species are typically smaller than saltwater species, growing somewhat more than 50 cm (20 in), although saltwater species can reach heights of over 1 m (3.3 ft). They reach adulthood within two years and live up to 44 years. In ten days, they finish their transformation from the larval stage.

However, large tarpons may still be able to put a bit of force behind their bites which may make them hurt.

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They are opportunistic, feeding on smaller fish, crustaceans, and even plants rarely. In salt water, they mainly feed on prawns and herring, but also many other small fish. In fresh water, no significant difference in their food habits is seen; they eat freshwater prawns and bony bream, mainly.

The Indo-Pacific tarpon migrates between the open sea and inland rivers. As with all Elopiformes, it spawns mainly offshore. Juveniles of the species stay inshore and migrate to coastal areas while maturing to spawn. Typically, they spawn twice a year. At sea, the larvae migrate inland and are leptocephalic (flattened, transparent and eel-like). Unlike the barramundi, they are able to breed in fresh and salt water.

While tarpon have teeth, they are not considered dangerous to humans. They have small, densely packed teeth, but these are not sharp and are not used for biting or chewing. Tarpon are primarily filter feeders that swallow their prey whole. Though they can cause injury if they thrash around and strike a person, especially when caught and released, they are not venomous or known to bite humans.

The Indo-Pacific tarpon is found from the coasts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to the coastal waters of South Asia, Southeast Asia, southern Japan, French Polynesia, and southern Australia. Their usual habitat is in coastal waters, estuaries and many miles upstream (from the estuaries) in freshwater rivers and lakes. They are amphidromus, i.e. they migrate from the river to the sea, and from the sea to the river. The tarpon lives in many tropical areas of Australia in the tropical, coastal, and brackish waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean in both fresh and salt water. They are widely distributed from Australia, Japan, South and Southeast Asia and North Africa. Data are deficient on their population, as their commercial landings and human disturbances are unknown, but they are known to be extremely common throughout their range. Over 300 specimens are found in museums

They are found at depths to 50 m (160 ft), but are commonly found by the surface in shallow, inshore waters. They inhabit coral reefs, mangroves, swamps, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, floodplains, and canals. In Papua New Guinea, they are reportedly found under large mats of Salvinia molesta.

• Movement Pattern: Full Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo/Group

• Population Trend: Decreased

• Population: ugh

• Locomotion: Aquatic

• Habitat: Warm River; Cold River; Lukewarm River; Warm Pond; Cold Pond; Warm Lake; Cold Lake; Warm Littoral; Cold Littoral; Warm Intertidal; Cold Intertidal; Neritic Zone (Warm); Neritic Zone (Cold); Pelagic Zone (Warm); Pelagic Zone (Cold).

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): American Samoa; Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, Coral Sea Is. Territory, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland); Bahrain; Bangladesh; Cambodia; China (Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian); Cook Islands; Djibouti; Egypt; Eritrea; Eswatini; Fiji; French Polynesia (Society Is.); Guam; Hong Kong; India (West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Andaman Is., Nicobar Is.); Indonesia; Iran; Israel; Japan/Nihon; Jordan; Kenya; North Korea; Korea South; Kuwait; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Sabah); Mauritius; Micronesia; Mozambique; Myanmar; Nauru; New Caledonia; Niue; Northern Mariana Islands; Oman; Pakistan; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Qatar; Réunion; Samoa; Saudi Arabia; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Taiwan; Tanzania; Thailand; Tonga; Tuvalu; United Arab Emirates; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Wallis and Futuna; Yemen; Zimbabwe

• Berbania/Hirawhassa: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): none

• Reinachos/Ityosel: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): none

• Thatrollwa/Delphia: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): none

• Sawintir/Everrealm: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): none

Coming soon

Coming soon

Past and Present Incidents - Individuals

• Terran/Gaian

  • n/a

• Berbanian/Hirawhassan

  • n/a

• Reinachos/Ityoselese

  • n/a

• Delphian/Thatrollwan

  • n/a

• Sawintiran

  • n/a 

• Jotunheim

  • n/a

The Recollections of Queen Arianna - Individuals

• Terran/Gaian

  • n/a

• Berbanian/Hirawhassan

  • n/a

• Reinachos/Ityoselese

  • n/a

• Delphian/Thatrollwan

  • n/a

• Sawintiran

  • n/a

• Jotunheim

  • n/a

See also: none

• Coming soon

• ugh

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pacific_tarpon

• https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Megalops_cyprinoides

• https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Megalops_cyprinoides/classification/

• https://www.fishbase.org/summary/227

• https://www.fishbase.org/ComNames/227

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/166868/46642796

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Indo-Pacific-Tarpon-1140665559