Stats

Lifespan

Up to 80 yrs

Size

Huge

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Nocturnal

Social

School

Biome

Coastal waters

Range

Atlantic Ocean

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Speed

Status

Vulnerable

About

This large silver fish patrols coastal waters, estuaries, and river mouths. It gulps air into its swim bladder to survive in water with almost no oxygen.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Elopiformes

Family

Megalopidae

Genus

Megalops

Species

Megalops atlanticus