Taxonomy

Animalia

Chordata

Actinopterygii

Elopiformes M. Megalops

Tarpon

Large-eyed Elope-shaped Ray-finned-fishes Possessing-a-chord Animals

The Elopiformes are the order of ray-finned fish including the tarpons, tenpounders, and ladyfish, as well as a number of extinct types. They have a long fossil record, easily distinguished from other fishes by the presence of an additional set of bones in the throat. They are related to the order of eels, although the adults superficially resemble very large or giant herrings in appearance. The larvae, however, are leptocephalic, looking very similar to those of eels.

Elopiformes. Retrieved November, 05 2021, from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elopiformes.


Tarpons are fish of the genus Megalops. They are the only members of the family Megalopidae. Of the two species, one (M. atlanticus) is native to the Atlantic, and the other (M. cyprinoides) to the Indo-Pacific Oceans.

Megalopidae. Retrieved November, 05 2021, from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarpon.