Tarponby Geoffrey A. English
Tarpon can survive in freshwater where oxygen is almost non-existent because they are able to take air directly from the surface of the water. This allows them to enter freshwater areas where there are fewer predators. They still prefer to live in temperate waters, but they have adapted their bodies for other ways of survival. The Silver King can grow up to six and a half feet in length, and can weigh up to an amazing 350 pounds. They are easily recognized by their large oval bodies that look compressed. They have very small teeth, and lots of them. Their skin is dark on top and fades towards their bellies, going from almost black to silver, and almost completely covered in scales. They have a blue or green overtone on their whole body. Some of the fish live in acidic areas that may turn their coloration to bronze, so it isn’t always easy to identify them by color. A female Tarpon can lay up to 12 million eggs, but they aren’t able to do so until their sixth year of life. Spawning takes place away from the shore where the babies are safer from harm. Some females go as far as 125 miles away from the shoreline to lay their eggs. The babies are microscopic at first, and some are mistaken as particles floating in the water. Once the larvae have been ejected, they shrink slightly, then grow into Tarpon. This takes time and many don’t make it through that stage. Those that do though can live up to 55 or 60 years, surpassing many other fish of similar build or habitat. The oldest Tarpon that ever lived in captivity grew to be 63 years old. They have been around since prehistoric times and are some of the wisest fish in the sea.
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