Megalopidae

The family Megalopidae consists of two living species of fish: the tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) and the Pacific tarpon (Megalops cyprinoides). These fish are found in warm coastal waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They are known for their large, silvery scales and their ability to break the water's surface and gulp air, which they use to supplement their gill respiration.12

Tarpons are powerful predators, feeding primarily on other fish. They can grow quite large, with the Atlantic tarpon reaching lengths of up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) and weighing up to 150 kg (about 330 pounds). While the Pacific tarpon is smaller, it is economically important as a food fish in Southeast Asia. Both species are prized game fish.21

Megalopidae belongs to the order Elopiformes, which are considered among the most primitive bony fishes. These fish have a ribbonlike larval stage called a leptocephalus, which undergoes a significant metamorphosis.2