Tarpon

Coastal Habitats

Animals of the Nearshore Waters 

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Tarpon look as unusual as they act, with extra large scales covering their silver bodies and a big, underslung jaw. Young tarpon often go in to the brackish water of small marsh channels, while adults may swim far up the larger rivers of South Texas, perhaps in search of food.

Animals of the Nearshore Waters

Learn more by clicking on the links below.

Brown Tube Sponge

Red Boring Sponge

Red-Orange Encrusting Sponge

Tree Oyster

Ivory Bush Coral

Cup Coral

Pearly Red Encrusting Bryozoan

Black Drum

Crevalle Jack

Florida Pompano

Sand Seatrout

Tarpon

Gulf Kingfish

Southern Kingfish

Spot

Pigfish

Select a coastal habitat:

• Salt Marshes
• Bays and Estuaries
• Jetties
• Nearshore Waters
• Gulf Waters