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Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Fish · family Megalopidae · order Elopiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
7 states[3]
Longest recorded life
55 years[4]

The tarpon is a fish in the family Megalopidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is native to seven US states[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the tarpon a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a US national rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[7]. The tarpon is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. State ranks differ from state to state, and the table on this page shows them[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Vulnerable

Where Tarpon lives

NatureServe lists the tarpon as native in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas[3]. People also report it on GBIF in North Carolina, and Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana have the most records[9]. Those counts follow where people look and report, not how many fish live there[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S3SCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: native, state rank S3LAMississippi: native, state rank S3MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S3GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S2TXFlorida: native, state rank SNRFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (7 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
FloridaSNRNot Ranked
GeorgiaS3Vulnerable
LouisianaS3Vulnerable
MississippiS3Vulnerable
South CarolinaS3Vulnerable
TexasS2Imperiled

Habitat

NatureServe records these habitat types for the tarpon: bay or sound, river mouth or tidal river, herbaceous wetland, pelagic (open water) and near shore[10]. Young fish live in brackish marsh pools and creeks, and larger young move into the upper parts of brackish and freshwater streams and canals[11]. Adults stay mostly in open salt water, such as shallow coastal waters near bays and estuaries, and sometimes enter fresh water[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adult tarpon eat mainly fishes, and NatureServe records them as piscivores and invertivores[12][13]. Young fish also eat tiny crustaceans, shrimps and insects[12]. NatureServe records a typical length of 245 cm (96 in)[14]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 55 years, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[4]. NatureServe says tarpon become sexually mature in 6 to 7 years[15].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 245 cm (96 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 55 years (wild)
Female maturity[16] 3,102 days (about 8.5 years)
Food habits[13] Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[17] local migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

Tarpon spawn from May to September, far out in open water[15][11]. NatureServe describes them as local or long-distance migrants, and populations can differ[17]. They travel between offshore spawning areas and coastal waters[18]. GBIF observation records are highest in May, June and July, which shows when people look and report, not how many fish there are[19].

January: 147 recordsJanFebruary: 130 recordsFebMarch: 178 recordsMarApril: 220 recordsAprMay: 266 recordsMayJune: 283 recordsJunJuly: 320 recordsJulAugust: 162 recordsAugSeptember: 168 recordsSepOctober: 222 recordsOctNovember: 168 recordsNovDecember: 171 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[19].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January147
February130
March178
April220
May266
June283
July320
August162
September168
October222
November168
December171

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Tarpon as present in 11 park units[20]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the tarpon endangered?
The tarpon is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and the IUCN category it records is Vulnerable[2][7].
Where does the tarpon live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas[3].
What does the tarpon eat?
Adults eat mainly fishes[12]. Young fish eat fishes, copepods, ostracods, shrimps and insects[12].
How big is a tarpon?
NatureServe records a typical length of 245 cm (96 in)[14].
How long does a tarpon live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 55 years[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Tarpon is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Tarpon: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Tarpon as native in 7 US states and territories: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 55 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is a fish in the family Megalopidae, order Elopiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Tarpon (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Tarpon: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Tarpon: Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Herbaceous wetland, Pelagic, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Tarpon. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on food for Tarpon. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 245 cm (96 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Tarpon. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 3,102 days (about 8.5 years). AnAge
  17. NatureServe migration category for Tarpon: local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on migration for Tarpon. NatureServe Explorer
  19. GBIF observation records of Tarpon in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  20. NPSpecies park lists recording Tarpon as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.