Indo-Pacific Tarpon Megalops cyprinoides

The Indo-Pacific Tarpon is one of two similar-looking Tarpons, the other being the Atlantic. It is native to coastal marine waters, estuaries and freshwater rivers and lakes (migrating between them) of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They spawn at sea.

Silvery fish with a greenish wash on top and an upturned mouth, they can reach a metre long, although those living entirely in freshwater reach only half that (and Atlantic Tarpons over twice that). Tarpons are the only species in their genus and both species are unusual in needing to supplement their oxygen intake by breathing air (using their modified swim bladder).