Order Elopiformes
Ray-finned fishes
Ladyfish
 Family Elopidae
Basic Info
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Coastal fish that live in tropic and subtropic regions
Eat crustaceans (shrimp)
Max length of 3.3 ft and max weight of 22 lbs
Have an enlongated body that is somewhat
compressed
 Distinguishing characteristic is a bony plate in the
throat called a gular plate
 Have leptocephallic larvae which are highly
compressed, ribbon-like, and transparent
 Larvae shrink after their initial growth then
metamorphise into the adult form
Fun Facts
 They are fished but often used as bait or ground into
fish meal because they are too bony to be considered
a good food fish
 Name comes from Greek ellops which is a kind of
serpent
Tarpon
 Family Megalopidae
Basic Info
 Can live in marine or freshwater, generally in the
Atlantic ocean
 4-8 ft long, 60-280 lbs
 Bluish/greenish backs with shiny, silver scales
 Eat small fish and crustaceans (shrimps, crabs)
 They hunt nocturnally
 Predators are sharks and porpoises in the ocean
 Distinguishing characteristic is gular plate but the
tarpon has an enlongated dorsal ray unlike the
ladyfish
 Lay eggs and have leptocephallic larvae
 Breed offshore in warm, isolated areas
 Has a swim bladder which allows it breath
atmospheric oxygen and live in waters of varying
salinity and pH
Fun Facts
 Very popular sport fish because they jump out of the
water when hooked and provide a great challenge to
anglers
 Generally released after they are caught because they
are very bony