The tarpons are two species of fish, the only members of the family Megalopidae and genus Megalops. They are large coastal fish prized by anglers.

They grow up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length and sometimes weigh 160 kilograms (350 lb). When swimming in oxygen-poor water, tarpons can breathe air from the surface. They have a similar leptocephalus larve to eels, which float in surface waters before taking on the adult form.[2] There are two species, one native to the Atlantic, and the other to the Indo-Pacific oceans.

The genus name derives from the Greek adjective megalo meaning 'large', and the noun opsi, meaning 'face'.