Tarpón

Q: Can you eat Tarpón?

Carne huesosa de textura algo áspera; rara vez se consume en la pesca deportiva moderna. Se practica principalmente la captura y liberación; no se consume habitualmente debido a sus espinas y su estad

Q: How big does Tarpón get?

Tarpón can grow up to 250.0 cm long and weigh 161.0 kg.

Q: Where is Tarpón found?

Atlántico occidental y oriental, desde Virginia hacia el sur a través del mar Caribe, el golfo de México y la costa sudamericana hasta Brasil; también presente en África occidental. Entra en estuarios, lagunas y ríos de agua dulce. Arrecifes de coral, estuarios

Q: Is Tarpón endangered?

The conservation status of Tarpón is Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List.

Q: What family does Tarpón belong to?

Tarpón (Megalops atlanticus) belongs to the family Megalopidae (Tarpons) in the order Elopiformes.

Abstract

Nicknamed the Silver King for its large, mirror-like scales and towering leaps, the tarpon is an ancient fish whose lineage stretches back more than 100 million years. It can breathe air through a modified, lung-like swim bladder, letting it survive oxygen-poor estuaries, lagoons, and even fresh water. Reaching 2.5 metres and 161 kilograms, it ranges through the western and eastern Atlantic from Virginia to Brazil and West Africa. Its acrobatic fights make it one of the most coveted saltwater sport fish, though its bony flesh is rarely eaten and it is caught almost entirely for release. Assessed as Vulnerable, it is protected in parts of its range.