- tarpon
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a large, powerful game fish, Megalops atlantica, inhabiting the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean, having a compressed body and large, silvery scales.[1675-85; earlier tarpum, trapham, terbum, of uncert. orig.; cf. D tarpoen; words in various Indian languages of Central America (Miskito tapam, Sumo tahpam, Rama tápum, Paya ta'pam) prob. ult. < E]
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Any of certain marine fish (family Megalopidae) having an elongated last dorsal fin ray and a bony throat plate between the sides of the protruding lower jaw.The scales are large, thick, and silvery. The Atlantic tarpon (Tarpon atlanticus or Megalops atlanticus) is found inshore in warm parts of the Atlantic Ocean, on the Pacific Ocean side of Central America, and sometimes in rivers. It habitually breaks the water's surface and gulps air. It grows to 6 ft (1.8 m) and 100 lb (45 kg) or larger and is a favourite game fish. The Pacific tarpon (M. cyprinoides) is similar.
Young Atlantic tarpon (Tarpon atlanticus)By courtesy of Miami Seaquarium* * *
▪ fishany of certain marine fish of the family Megalopidae (order Elopiformes), related to the bonefish and the ladyfish and identified by the elongated last dorsal fin ray and the bony throat plate between the sides of the protruding lower jaw. The scales are large, thick, and silvery.The Atlantic tarpon (Tarpon atlanticus, alternate name Megalops atlanticus) is found inshore in warm parts of the Atlantic, on the Pacific side of Central America, and sometimes in rivers. Also called silver king, grand écaille, and sabalo real, it habitually breaks water and gulps air. It regularly grows to 1.8 m (6 feet) and 45.4 kg (100 pounds) or larger and is a favourite game fish. The largest recorded catches weigh more than 136 kg. The Pacific tarpon, M. cyprinoides, is similar.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
