Tarpon (Megalops) je rod paprskoploutvých ryb. Tvoří ho dva druhy: tarpon atlantský se vyskytuje u pobřeží západní Afriky a v Americe od Virginie po Brazílii, tarpon indický žije u břehů jižní a východní Asie i v Oceánii.
Tarponi patří k vývojově starobylým rybám. Mají protáhlé tělo stříbrné barvy, která na hřbetě přechází do modré, s velkými lesklými šupinami. Charakteristickými znaky jsou velké oči s průsvitnými očními víčky (odtud vědecký název Megalops, řecky velké oko) a protáhlá spodní čelist. Největší jedinci mohou dosáhnout délky přes dva metry a vážit více než 100 kg.[1] Larvy tarponů jsou průsvitné a připomínají spíše larvy úhořovitých ryb než dospělé tarpony.
Vyhledávají teplé, mělké a kalné vody, žijí při mořském pobřeží nebo v ústích řek. Protože je toto prostředí chudé na kyslík, často se vynořují na hladinu a dýchají atmosférický kyslík. Jsou draví, loví převážně v noci. Dožívají se více než padesáti let.[2]
Tarpon je pro svou sílu a bojovnost vyhledávanou sportovní rybou. Údajně na jednoho chyceného tarpona připadá pět až šest, kterým se podařilo z udice uniknout.[3] Jeho maso obsahuje mnoho kostí, proto se převážně praktikuje metoda chyť a pusť.
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Tarpon (Megalops) je rod paprskoploutvých ryb. Tvoří ho dva druhy: tarpon atlantský se vyskytuje u pobřeží západní Afriky a v Americe od Virginie po Brazílii, tarpon indický žije u břehů jižní a východní Asie i v Oceánii.
Die Tarpune (Megalops) sind eine Gattung großer, urtümlicher Echter Knochenfische (Teleostei), die mit zwei Arten weltweit in allen warmen Ozeanen leben.
Tarpune sind große, silbrige Fische, die 1,5 bis 2,5 Meter lang werden können. Ihr seitlich abgeflachter Körper ist von großen Schuppen bedeckt. Das Maul ist oberständig, der Unterkiefer steht vor. Zwischen den beiden Unterkieferästen liegt eine kleine Knochenplatte (Gulare). Der Kiemenraum wird bauchseitig durch 23 bis 27 Branchiostegalstrahlen geschützt. Die einzige Rückenflosse wird von 13 bis 21 Flossenstrahlen gestützt, von denen der letzte verlängert ist. Die Afterflosse besitzt 22 bis 29 Flossenstrahlen, die Bauchflossen 10 oder 11. Die Bauchflossen setzen sehr tief an. Tarpune besitzen einen Conus arteriosus. Eine Pseudobranchie fehlt. Die Poren der Seitenlinie verzweigen sich über die Schuppen des Seitenliniensystems. Tarpune sind die einzigen Elopomorpha, deren Schwimmblase bis zum Kopf reicht. Mit ihrer Hilfe können sie Luft aufnehmen und in sauerstoffarmem Wasser überleben. Die Larven der Tarpune sind transparente Leptocephaluslarven.
Zur Gattung der Tarpune gehören folgende zwei rezente Arten:
Fossil sind Angehörige der Familie Megalopidae schon seit dem oberen Mesozoikum nachzuweisen. Zwei in Deutschland gefundene Gattungen sind Pachtrissops aus dem Oberjura von Solnhofen und Sendenhorstia aus der Oberkreide von Westfalen.
Die Tarpune (Megalops) sind eine Gattung großer, urtümlicher Echter Knochenfische (Teleostei), die mit zwei Arten weltweit in allen warmen Ozeanen leben.
Cheche ni samaki wa baharini na maji baridi katika jenasi Megalops ya familia Megalopidae wanaopumua hewa. Familia hii ina spishi mbili tu.
Spishi mbili za cheche ni Megalops atlanticus (cheche wa Atlantiki) na Megalops cyprinoides (cheche wa Indo-Pasifiki). Cheche wa Atlantiki hupatikana pwani ya Atlantiki ya Magharibi kutoka Virginia mpaka Brazili, kupitia pwani ya Ghuba ya Mexico, na katika Bahari ya Karibi. Cheche pia hupatikana pwani ya Atlantiki ya Mashariki kutoka Senegali hadi kusini mwa Angola. Cheche wa Indo-Pasifiki hupatikana pwani ya Afrika ya Mashariki, kusini-mashariki kote mwa Asia, Japani, Tahiti na Australia.
Spishi hizi mbili hupatikana katika maji ya chumvi na maji baridi na mara nyingi huingia mito dhidi ya mkondo ili kufikia mabwawa ya maji baridi. Wana uwezo wa kuishi katika maji ya chumvi kidogo, maji ya pH mbalimbali na makazi yenye ukolezi wa chini wa oksijeni kwa ajili ya kibofuboya chao, ambazo hutumia kupumua hasa. Wanaweza pia kwenda juu ili kugugumia hewa, ambayo huwapa muda mfupi wa nishati.
Makazi ya cheche hutofautiana sana na hatua zao za maendeleo. Lava wa hatua ya kwanza hupatikana kwa kawaida katika maji mangavu na vuguvugu ya bahari karibu na uso. Lava wa hatua za pili na tatu hupatikana katika mabwawa ya chumvi, madimbwi ya maji mafu, hori na mito. Sifa za makazi ni maji vuguvugu na kame yenye giza na sakafu za matope ya mchanga. Wanapoendelea kutoka hatua za kitoto hadi samaki wazima, hurudi kwenye maji wazi ya bahari, ingawa wengi hubakia katika makazi ya maji baridi.
Cheche hukua hadi urefu wa m 1.23-2.44 na uzito wa kg 27 - 127. Wana mapezi laini ya juu na ya chini na mgongo buluu au kijani. Huwa na magamba yang'aayo ya rangi ya fedha yanayofunika mwili wao isipokuwa kichwa. Wana macho makubwa na kope nono na kinywa kipana chenye taya la chini la kuchomoza ambalo linatokeza zaidi kuliko uso wote.
Moja ya tabia za pekee za cheche ni kibofuboya kinachofanya kazi kama aina ya ogani ya kupumua. Muundo huu wa gesi unaweza kutumika kwa ajili ya uelezi, kama ogani ya nyongeza ya kupumua, au yote mbili. Katika cheche muundo huo wenye hewa ndani yake unatokea juu ya sehemu ya nyuma ya koromeo. Cheche hutumia kibofuboya kama ogani ya kupumua na ukuta wa kupumua huvaliwa na kapilari za damu zenye epitheliamu nyembamba juu. Hii ni msingi wa tishu ya vijiribahewa iliyopatikana katika kibofuboya na inafikiriwa kuwa ni moja ya mbinu za kwanza ambayo cheche anatumia "kupumua". Samaki hawa wanalazimika kupumua hewa na ikiwa hawataruhusiwi kufikia uso, watakufa. Kubadilishana kwa gesi hutokea kwenye uso wa bahari kwa njia ya mwendo unaozunguka ambao huhusishwa na kuonekana kwa cheche. "Kupumua" huku kunafikiriwa kuwa kuingiliana na ishara zionazo, na mrudio wa kupumua ni kinyume na uhusiano na kiwango cha oksejeni iliyoyeyuka katika maji ambamo wanaishi.
Cheche wanachukuliwa kama mmoja wa samaki muhimu wavuliwao katika bahari. Wanathaminiwa siyo kwa sababu ya ukubwa wao tu lakini pia kwa sababu ya mapigano yao na uwezo wao wa kuruka wa kushangaza. Hawa ni samaki wenye miiba mingi na nyama yao haipendekezi, kwa hivyo wengi hutolewa baada ya kukamatwa. Mashindano mengi yanalenga kukamata kwa cheche mwaka mzima.
Cheche wa Atlantiki
Cheche ni samaki wa baharini na maji baridi katika jenasi Megalops ya familia Megalopidae wanaopumua hewa. Familia hii ina spishi mbili tu.
Ang tarpon ay maaaring tumukoy sa:
Ang tarpon ay maaaring tumukoy sa:
Tarpon (Megalopidae), isang isdang parang tamban, kundilat, lapad, tunsoy, o tawilis, na maramihang matatagpuan sa Golpo ng Mehiko at sa Dagat ng Karibe. Isdang pilak ng Antartiko, tinatawag ding tarpon.
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.
The two species of tarpons are M. atlanticus (Atlantic tarpon) and M. cyprinoides (Indo-Pacific tarpon). M. atlanticus is found on the western Atlantic coast from Virginia to Brazil, throughout the Caribbean and the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Tarpons are also found along the eastern Atlantic coast from Senegal to South Angola.[4] M. cyprinoides is found along the eastern African coast, throughout Southeast Asia, Japan, Tahiti, and Australia. Both species are found in both marine and freshwater habitats, usually ascending rivers to access freshwater marshes.[5] They are able to survive in brackish water, waters of varying pH, and habitats with low dissolved O
2 content due to their swim bladders, which they use primarily to breathe. They are also able to rise to the surface and take gulps of air, which gives them a short burst of energy. The habitats of tarpons vary greatly with their developmental stages. Stage-one larvae are usually found in clear, warm, oceanic waters, relatively close to the surface. Stage-two and -three larvae are found in salt marshes, tidal pools, creeks, and rivers. Their habitats are characteristically warm, shallow, dark bodies of water with sandy mud bottoms. Tarpons commonly ascend rivers into fresh water. As they progress from the juvenile stage to adulthood, they move back to the open waters of the ocean, though many remain in freshwater habitats.[6][7]
Fossils of this genus go back to the Cretaceous during the Albian stage 113.0 million years ago (Mya).[8][9]
Tarpons grow to about 4–8 ft (1.2–2.4 m) long and weigh 60–280 lb (27–127 kg). They have dorsal and anal soft rays and bluish or greenish backs. Tarpons possess shiny, silvery scales that cover most of their bodies, excluding the head. They have large eyes with adipose eyelids and broad mouths with prominent lower jaws that jut out farther than the rest of the face.[4][5][6]
Tarpons breed offshore in warm, isolated areas. Females have high fecundity and can lay up to 12 million eggs at once. They reach sexual maturity once they are about 75–125 cm (30–50 in) in length. Spawning usually occurs in late spring to early summer.[6] Their three distinct levels of development usually occur in varying habitats. Stage one, or the leptocephalus stage, is completed after 20–30 days. It takes place in clear, warm oceanic waters, usually within 10–20 m of the surface. The leptocephalus shrinks as it develops into a larva; the most shrunken larva, stage two, develops by day 70. This is due to a negative growth phase followed by a sluggish growth phase. By day 70, the juvenile growth phase (stage three) begins and the fish begins to grow rapidly until reaching sexual maturity.[4][11]
Stage-one developing tarpons do not forage for food, but instead absorb nutrients from seawater using integumentary absorption. Stage-two and -three juveniles feed primarily on zooplankton, but also on insects and small fish. As they progress in juvenile development, especially those developing in freshwater environments, their consumption of insects, fish, crabs, and grass shrimp increases. Adults are strictly carnivorous and feed on midwater prey; they hunt nocturnally and swallow their food whole.[6][7]
The main predators of Megalops during stage-one and early stage-two development are other fish, depending on their size. Juveniles are subject to predation by other juvenile Megalops and piscivorous birds. They are especially vulnerable to birds such as ospreys or other raptors when they come to the surface for air, due to the rolling manner in which they move to take in air, as well as the silver scales lining their sides.[12] Adults occasionally fall prey to sharks, porpoises, crocodiles, and alligators.
One of the unique features of Megalops is the swim bladder, which, in addition to controlling the buoyancy, can be used as an accessory respiratory organ. It arises dorsally from the posterior pharynx, and the respiratory surface is coated with blood capillaries with a thin epithelium over the top. This is the basis of the alveolar tissue found in the swim bladder, and is believed to be one of the primary methods by which Megalops "breathes". These fish are obligate air breathers, and will die if not given sufficient access to the surface. The exchange of gas occurs at the surface through a rolling motion that is commonly associated with tarpon sightings. This "breathing" is believed to be mediated by visual cues, and the frequency of breathing is inversely correlated to the dissolved O
2 content of the water in which they live.[6][13]
Tarpons are considered to be some of the greatest saltwater game fishes, prized not only because of their great size, but also because of the fight they put up and their spectacular leaping ability. After the International Game Fish Association took responsibility for fly fishing records in salt water (1978) fly fishing for tarpon became increasingly popular, despite declining populations (correlated with the decline of fresh water rivers flowing into the seas around Florida.)[14] Tarpon meat is not desirable, so most are released after being caught. Numerous tournaments around the year are focused on catching tarpon.[15]
The Atlantic tarpon adapts well to water bodies in urban and suburban environments due to their tolerance for boat traffic and low water quality. Around humans, Atlantic tarpon are primarily nocturnal.[16]
Since tarpons are not commercially valuable as a food fish, very little has been documented concerning their geographical distribution and migrations. They inhabit both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and their range in the eastern Atlantic has been reliably established from Senegal to the Congo. Tarpons inhabiting the western Atlantic are principally found to populate warmer coastal waters primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and the West Indies. Nonetheless, tarpons are regularly caught by anglers at Cape Hatteras and as far north as Nova Scotia, Bermuda, and south to Argentina. Scientific studies[17] indicate that schools of tarpons have routinely migrated through the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific and back for over 70 years. However, they have not been found to breed in the Pacific Ocean. Nevertheless, anecdotal evidence by tarpon fishing guides and anglers would tend to validate this notion, as over the last 60 years, many small juvenile tarpons, as well as mature giants, have been caught and documented principally on the Pacific side of Panama at the Bayano River, the Gulf of San Miguel and its tributaries, Coiba Island in the Gulf of Chiriquí, and Piñas Bay in the Gulf of Panama. Since tarpons tolerate wide ranges of salinity throughout their lives and eat almost anything dead or alive, their migrations seemingly are only limited by water temperatures. Tarpons prefer water temperatures of 72 to 82 °F (22 to 28 °C); below 60 °F (16 °C) they become inactive, and temperatures under 40 °F (4 °C) can be lethal.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) 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.
Megalops arrain elopiformeen generoa da, Ozeano Atlantikoan, Indiako ozeanoan eta Ozeano Barean bizi dena. Megalopidae familia osatzen duen bakarra da.[1]
Artikulu hau biologiari buruzko zirriborroa da. Wikipedia lagun dezakezu edukia osatuz. Megalops arrain elopiformeen generoa da, Ozeano Atlantikoan, Indiako ozeanoan eta Ozeano Barean bizi dena. Megalopidae familia osatzen duen bakarra da.
Tarponit (Megalopidae) on tarponikaloihin kuuluva kalaheimo.
Tarponeihin kuuluu kaksi lajia tarponi (Megalops atlanticus) ja pikkutarponi (Megalops cyprinoides). Tarponeiden ruumis on litteähkö ja suu sijaitsee kuonon kärjessä. Tarponi voi saavuttaa jopa 2,4 m pituuden. Suomut ovat suurikokoiset ja hopeanväriset. Kalojen rinta- ja vatsaevät ovat kookkaat, selkäevän viimeinen ruoto on pidentynyt ja pyrstöevä on voimakkaasti haarautunut. Tarponilajeilla on uimarakko lähellä kalloa ja se voi toimia myös keuhkojen tavoin. Kuten hopeakaloilla ja ankeriailla tarponeilla on nauhamainen toukkavaihe.[2][3][4]
Tarponilajeja tavataan trooppisista ja subtrooppisista vesistä. Tarponi elää Atlantin länsirannikolla ja Afrikan rannikolla, pikkutarponi on indopasifisen merialueen kala. Ne ovat pääasiassa mereisiä, mutta liikkuvat toisinaan myös murto- ja makeissa vesissä. Keuhkon tavoin toimivan uimarakkonsa ansiosta tarponilajit voivat selviytyä myös vähähappisissakin olosuhteissa.[2][3][4]
Tarponit (Megalopidae) on tarponikaloihin kuuluva kalaheimo.
Megalops est l'unique genre de la famille des Megalopidae. Il regroupe deux espèces de tarpons :
Le tarpon est un poisson des mers chaudes, vivant principalement dans les lagunes d'Afrique de l'Ouest et de la côte atlantique d'Amérique latine et pesant adulte de 70 à 180 kg pour une taille maximale de 3 m. Il pourrait vivre une cinquantaine d'années (source : Ifremer).
Il possède un grand corps argenté muni de grosses écailles, de grands yeux et d'une bouche à la mâchoire inférieure proéminente. La nageoire dorsale possède un long rayon filamenteux ou fouet.
Ce poisson est un prédateur vorace se nourrissant de poissons et de crustacés qu'il chasse aux abords des îles côtières où on peut le voir nager en surface ou sauter hors de l'eau. Les alevins se développent dans les marais côtiers ou les estuaires. Ces poissons ont la capacité de respirer à la surface grâce à leur vessie gazeuse reliée à l'œsophage. L'oxygène peut être échangé par le circuit sanguin.
Le tarpon, appelé Palika en Guyane française, où les adultes sont très répandus aux abords des îles (notamment les îles du Salut), est très recherché pour le côté sportif de sa pêche. Lorsqu'il sent l'hameçon, il se propulse hors de l'eau et se lance dans une lutte qui se termine bien souvent en sa faveur. Il est notamment recherché pour la pêche à la mouche.
En Martinique mais aussi, et surtout, en Guadeloupe, il est appelé « grand écaille » ou « gran tékay », à cause de la taille importante de ses écailles.
Sa chair est peu recherchée en raison de la présence de nombreuses arêtes.
Megalops est l'unique genre de la famille des Megalopidae. Il regroupe deux espèces de tarpons :
Megalops atlanticus Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1847 — Tarpon de l'Atlantique Megalops cyprinoides (Broussonet, 1782) — Tarpon indo-pacifiqueIasc mór, suas le 2.4 m ar fhad, atá fairsing san Atlantach. Luachmhar mar iasc spóirt. A bhéal claonta, a chorrán íochtarach fadaithe, eite bheag droma air is eite fhada ghathach dheiridh. Maireann na larbhaí in uiscí tanaí atá dlúth le cladach, agus riasca goirte.
Megalops is een geslacht van straalvinnige vissen uit de familie van tarpons (Megalopidae).[1]
Het geslacht is voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven in 1803 door Bernard Germain de Lacépède.
Megalops is een geslacht van straalvinnige vissen uit de familie van tarpons (Megalopidae).
Het geslacht is voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven in 1803 door Bernard Germain de Lacépède.
Multimedia w Wikimedia Commons Megalops – rodzaj ryb elopsokształtnych z rodziny tarponowatych (Megalopidae)
Gatunki zaliczane do tego rodzaju[2]:
Gatunkiem typowym rodzaju jest Megalops filamentosus (=Megalops cyprinoides).
Megalops – rodzaj ryb elopsokształtnych z rodziny tarponowatych (Megalopidae)
Tarpões são peixes capazes de respirar ar atmosférico através de suas bexigas natatórias. São conhecidas duas espécies: O tarpão-do-Atlântico e o tarpão-do-Indo-Pacífico.
As duas espécies de tarpões são o Megalops atlanticus (tarpão-atlântico, também conhecido como pirapema ou camurupim) e o Megalops cyprinoides (tarpão-indo-pacífico). O M. atlanticus é encontrado desde a costa oeste dos Estados Unidos até a costa do Brasil, aparecendo no Golfo do México e no Caribe. Também é encontrado na costa oeste africana, em Senegal e no sul da Angola.[1] O M. cyprinoides é encontrado na costa leste africana, pelo sudeste asiático, Japão e Austrália.[2] Eles são capazes de viver em ambientes de água salobra com uma variedade de pH e com pouco oxigênio dissolvido, devido a sua capacidade de utilizar suas bexigas natatórias para respirar ar. Seu habitat varia de acordo com seu desenvolvimento, abrangendo o oceano, o mangue e rios, por exemplo.
Tarpões são peixes capazes de respirar ar atmosférico através de suas bexigas natatórias. São conhecidas duas espécies: O tarpão-do-Atlântico e o tarpão-do-Indo-Pacífico.
Megalops[1] är ett släkte av fiskar som är ensam i familjen Megalopidae.[1] Det svenska trivialnamnet tarponfiskar förekommer för släktet.[2]
Kladogram enligt Catalogue of Life[1]:
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Denna artikel om strålfeniga fiskar saknar väsentlig information. Du kan hjälpa till genom att tillföra sådan.
Họ Cá cháo lớn (danh pháp khoa học: Megalopidae) là họ bao gồm 2 loài cá lớn sinh sống ven biển. Khi bơi trong các vùng nước thiếu ôxy, cá cháo lớn có thể hít thở không khí từ mặt nước. Họ này chỉ có 2 loài trong một chi duy nhất là Megalops[2], một loài có nguồn gốc Đại Tây Dương, còn loài kia sinh sống trong khu vực Ấn Độ Dương-Thái Bình Dương, trong các vùng biển nhiệt đới và cận nhiệt đới nhưng đôi khi cũng di chuyển vào vùng nước lợ.
Danh pháp khoa học của chi và họ cá này có nguồn gốc từ tính từ trong tiếng Hy Lạp megalo nghĩa là 'lớn', và danh từ pous, nghĩa là 'chân'.
Bề ngoài màu trắng bạc. Vây lưng duy nhất không có gai. Số lượng tia vây lưng: 13-21, tia vây lưng cuối cùng dạng sợi. Các vây ngực rất thấp. Vây hậu môn với 22-29 tia vây. Vây hông với 10-11 tia vây. Bong bóng nằm đối diện với hộp sọ, dài khoảng 2 cm. Cá bột trong mờ, đầu hẹp.
Bài viết Lớp Cá vây tia này vẫn còn sơ khai. Bạn có thể giúp Wikipedia bằng cách mở rộng nội dung để bài được hoàn chỉnh hơn. Họ Cá cháo lớn (danh pháp khoa học: Megalopidae) là họ bao gồm 2 loài cá lớn sinh sống ven biển. Khi bơi trong các vùng nước thiếu ôxy, cá cháo lớn có thể hít thở không khí từ mặt nước. Họ này chỉ có 2 loài trong một chi duy nhất là Megalops, một loài có nguồn gốc Đại Tây Dương, còn loài kia sinh sống trong khu vực Ấn Độ Dương-Thái Bình Dương, trong các vùng biển nhiệt đới và cận nhiệt đới nhưng đôi khi cũng di chuyển vào vùng nước lợ.
Danh pháp khoa học của chi và họ cá này có nguồn gốc từ tính từ trong tiếng Hy Lạp megalo nghĩa là 'lớn', và danh từ pous, nghĩa là 'chân'.
Длина тела тарпонов может достигать 2,5 метров, а масса — 160 кг. При плавании в воде, бедной кислородом, тарпоны могут получать воздух, выныривая на поверхность. Их личинки-лептоцефалы напоминают личинок угреобразных, они так же плавают у поверхности до того, как примут взрослую форму[2].
У тарпонов продолговатое, сжатое с боков тело, покрыто крупной циклоидной чешуёй Лучей жаберной перепонки 23—27. Рот большой, косой, полуверхний, нижняя челюсть слегка выступает вперёд, верхняя челюсть достигает до вертикали середины глаза. Имеются мелкие зубы на челюстях, сошнике, нёбных костях, языке. Расположенный в средней части спины спинной плавник имеет 13—21 луч, последний луч сильно удлинён. В анальном плавнике 22—29 лучей, последний луч слегка удлинен. Брюшные плавники расположены на уровне передних лучей спинного плавника, в них 10—11 лучей. Хвостовой плавник вильчатый. Боковая линия с ветвящимися трубочками, насчитывает 39—48 чешуй. Позвонков 67—68. Ложножабры отсутствуют. Имеется артериальный конус с двумя рядами клапанов[3].
Спинная поверхность серебристо-синяя, бока серебристые.
Название рода Megalops происходит от греч. μέγας — «огромный» и ὄψ — «глаз».
Тарпоновые являются объектами промыслового и спортивного лова[3].
В состав рода включают два вида, один из которых распространён в Атлантическом океане, а второй — в Индо-Тихоокеанском регионе.
Длина тела тарпонов может достигать 2,5 метров, а масса — 160 кг. При плавании в воде, бедной кислородом, тарпоны могут получать воздух, выныривая на поверхность. Их личинки-лептоцефалы напоминают личинок угреобразных, они так же плавают у поверхности до того, как примут взрослую форму.
У тарпонов продолговатое, сжатое с боков тело, покрыто крупной циклоидной чешуёй Лучей жаберной перепонки 23—27. Рот большой, косой, полуверхний, нижняя челюсть слегка выступает вперёд, верхняя челюсть достигает до вертикали середины глаза. Имеются мелкие зубы на челюстях, сошнике, нёбных костях, языке. Расположенный в средней части спины спинной плавник имеет 13—21 луч, последний луч сильно удлинён. В анальном плавнике 22—29 лучей, последний луч слегка удлинен. Брюшные плавники расположены на уровне передних лучей спинного плавника, в них 10—11 лучей. Хвостовой плавник вильчатый. Боковая линия с ветвящимися трубочками, насчитывает 39—48 чешуй. Позвонков 67—68. Ложножабры отсутствуют. Имеется артериальный конус с двумя рядами клапанов.
Спинная поверхность серебристо-синяя, бока серебристые.
Название рода Megalops происходит от греч. μέγας — «огромный» и ὄψ — «глаз».
Тарпоновые являются объектами промыслового и спортивного лова.
大海鰱科（學名：Megalopidae）是輻鰭魚綱海鰱目的其中一科。
水深1至30公尺以上。
型態近似海鰱科，但體較短壯，略為側扁。體被大圓鱗，側線直走。背鰭、臀鰭基底無鱗鞘；背鰭單一，最後鰭條延長為絲狀，背鰭稍小於臀鰭。眼大，有脂性眼瞼，口裂斜，下頷突出。
大海鰱科下分1個屬，如下：
屬於熱帶、亞熱帶洄游性魚類，游泳速度快，通常是獨居，以掠食小魚為生。有時進入紅樹林沼澤區的河口，甚至溯流入河川數里之遠，是廣鹽性魚類。幼魚發生變態行為，即「細頭狹帶型」的幼魚期，全身透明，浮游於沿岸淺水域及河口區。
食用魚，但味道欠佳且多刺，通常是醃製成鹹魚。
풀잉어 또는 타폰(Tarpon)은 대형 바닷물고기이다. 잉어와는 가깝지 않다. 힘이 세며 바늘털이를 시도하는 고급 어종이다. 풀잉어과(Megalopidae)의 유일속인 풀잉어속(Megalops)에 속한다. 2종을 포함하고 있다.
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