Tarpons

tarpon

tarpon , common name for members of the family Elopidae, large herringlike game fish of the warm seas of the Western Hemisphere, ranging occasionally from Long Island to Brazil and to the west coast of Africa and entering freshwater streams freely. Their heavy, silvery scales, sometimes used as ornaments, give them the name silver king. Tarpons average 6 ft (183 cm) in length and 150 lb (67.5 kg) in weight, although some may be over 8 ft (244 cm) long and weigh more than 300 lb (135 kg). Active and predacious, they prey on schools of small fry. They are favorites of deep-sea fishermen, particularly Tarpon atlanticus, found in the warmer parts of the Atlantic Ocean. Tarpons are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Osteichthyes, order Clupeiformes, family Elopidae.

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Megalopidae

Megalopidae (tarpon; subclass Actinopterygii, order Elopiformes) A small family of marine fish that have a streamlined body and silvery scales. The mouth is in a slightly oblique position with the lower jaw protruding. All the fins are softrayed. The dorsal fin is located midway along the back, and the last ray is extended into a long, filamentous tip. The forked tail fin is indicative of a strong swimmer. There are two species, found in tropical and subtropical oceans.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Megalopidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Megalopidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Megalopidae.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Megalopidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Megalopidae.html

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tarpon

tar·pon / ˈtärpən/ • n. a large tropical marine fish (family Megalopidae) of herringlike appearance. Two species: Tarpon atlanticus, a prized Atlantic game fish, and Megalops cyprinoides of the Indo-Pacific.

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"tarpon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"tarpon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-tarpon.html

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tarpon

tarpon Tropical, marine game fish. Blue and bright silver, it has a long, forked tail. Length: to 1.8m (6ft); weight: to 150kg (300lb). Species include the small Pacific Megalops cyprinoides and the large Atlantic M. atlanticus. Family Elopidae.

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"tarpon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"tarpon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-tarpon.html

"tarpon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-tarpon.html

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tarpon

tarpon large game-fish. XVII. — Du. tarpoen, of unkn. orig.

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T. F. HOAD. "tarpon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "tarpon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-tarpon.html

T. F. HOAD. "tarpon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-tarpon.html

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tarpon

tarpon See MEGALOPIDAE.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "tarpon." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "tarpon." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-tarpon.html

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tarpon

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"tarpon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"tarpon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-tarpon.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

In search of the silver king: world-class tarpon fishing and rich tournaments...
Magazine article from: Sarasota Magazine; 5/1/2002
Trophy-sized tarpon abound around Captiva Island waters.(Sports)(Outdoors)
Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 5/12/1997
STAKED OUT IN THE HEAT; In the Marquesas Islands 25 miles off Key West, Fla.,...
Newspaper article from: Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN); 6/28/1998

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