Megalops atlanticus

The Tarpon is a fish of the hot seas, living mainly in the lagoons of West Africa and the coast Atlantique of Latin America and heavy adult from 70 to 180 kg for a maximum size of 2,5m. It could live about fifty year (source: Ifremer).

It has a silver plated large body provided with large scales, large eyes and of a prominent mouth to the jaw lower. The dorsal fin has a long filamentous ray or whip.

This fish is a voracious predator nourishing fish and shellfish which it drives out with the accesses of the coastal islands where one can see it swimming on the surface or jumping out of water. The larvae develop in the coastal marshes or the estuaries. These fish have the capacity to breathe on the surface thanks to their gas bladder connected to the esophagus. Oxygen can be exchanged by the blood circuit.

The tarpon, called Palika in French Guiana, where the adults are very widespread with the accesses of the islands (in particular the Îles of the Hello), is very required for the sporting side of its fishing. When it feels the hook, it is propelled out of water and launches out in a fight which very often finishes in its favor. It is in particular required for fishing with the fly.

In Martinique and Guadeloupe, it is called " large écaille" or " gran tékay" , because of the important size of its scales.

Its flesh is not very required because of the presence of much of edges.

List Espèce S of this kind

Megalops atlanticus Valencian in Vat and Valencian, 1847 tarpon
Megalops cyprinoides (Broussonet, 1782) - tarpon indo-peaceful

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