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Atlantic tarpon

(Megalops atlanticus)

 

Category: Fish

 

 

These large, striking fish are typically found in tropical and sub-tropical coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers in and near the Atlantic Ocean. Its ability to fill its swim-bladder like a primitive lung gives it a survival advantage in oxygen-poor waters. They are highly valued as saltwater game fish due to their size, accessible haunts, and fighting spirit when hooked. Otherwise, they are not a commercially valuable fish and very little has been documented concerning their worldwide geographical distribution and migration.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_tarpon

 

Data & Facts

Scientific Classification
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Actinopterygii
Order - Elopiformes
Family - Megalopidae
Genus - Megalops
Species - M. atlanticus

 
Did you know?
Interesting Animal Facts

ABC. It’s easy as Protandry

The largest, most aggressive female anemonefish rules the roost - she is the dominant member of the social group, and with one breeding male, the only one who reproduces. In anemonefish society, everybody knows where they stand in the hierarchy! So when she leaves the group, everybody moves up one spot - including the largest, most aggressive male, who undergoes a sex change to become the leader (and breeding female) of the group. While undergoing a sex change might sound drastic to humans, it is actually not all that uncommon in other species. Many do it, either naturally or due to environmental factors: fish, invertebrates, amphibians, some reptiles, even the occasional chicken!

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