Bonefish

The bonefish (Albula vulpes) is the type species of the bonefish family (Albulidae), the only family in order Albuliformes.

For the superclass of bony fishes, see Osteichthyes. For the United States Navy submarines, see USS Bonefish. For the restaurant chain, see Bonefish Grill.

Bonefish
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Albuliformes
Family:	Albulidae
Genus:	Albula
Species:	A. vulpes
Binomial name
Albula vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms[1][2]
Species Esox vulpes Linnaeus 1758 Vulpis vulpes (Linnaeus 1758) ?Albula lacustris Walbaum 1792 Albula conoryncha Bloch & Schneider 1801 Clupea brasiliensis Bloch & Schneider 1801 non Steindachner 1879 Albula plumieri Bloch & Schneider 1801 Amia immaculata Bloch & Schneider 1801 Clupea macrocephala Lacépède 1803 Conorynchus macrocephalus (Lacépède 1803) ?Butyrinus bananus Lacepède 1803 Glossodus forskalii Spix & Agassiz 1829 Engraulis bahiensis Spix 1829 Engraulis serica Spix 1829 Albula parrae Valenciennes 1847 Albula goreensis Valenciennes 1847 Esunculus costai Kaup 1856 Vulpis bahamensis Catesby 1771 Albulas gronovii Walbaum 1792 Albula rostrata Gronow 1854 ?Albula unbarana Marcgrave ex de Castelnau 1855

Description

Scales of A. vulpes

Bonefish head

The bonefish weighs up to 19 lb (8.6 kg) and measures up to 105 cm (41 in) long. The color of bonefish can range from very silver sides and slight darker backs to olive green backs that blend to the silver side.[3] Slight shading on the scales often lead to very soft subtle lines that run the flank of the fish from the gills to the tail. The bases of the pectoral fins are sometimes yellow.

Behavior

An amphidromous species, it lives in inshore tropical waters and moves onto shallow mudflats to feed with the incoming tide. Adults and juveniles may shoal together, and they may be found singly or in pairs.

The bonefish feeds on benthic worms, fry, crustaceans, and mollusks.[4] Ledges, drop-offs, and clean, healthy seagrass beds yield abundant small prey such as crabs and shrimp. It may follow stingrays to catch the small animals they root from the substrate.

Fishing and cuisine

Fly fishing for bonefish, called bonefishing, is a popular sport in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and southern Florida. Since bonefish live in shallow inshore water, fishing may be done by wading or from a shallow-draft boat. Bonefishing is mostly done for the sport, so the fish are released, but they may also be eaten. A typical recipe is a split fish seasoned with pepper sauce and salt, then baked.[5]

References

1. "Albulidae" (PDF). Deeplyfish- fishes of the world. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
2. Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017). "Albulidae". FishBase version (02/2017). Retrieved 18 May 2017.
3. http://www.mountthis.net/v/vspfiles/assets/images/bonefish-half-mount-customer.jpg
4. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). "Albula vulpes" in FishBase. June 2007 version.
5. Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince, Frommer's Bahamas, 20th edition, 2012, ISBN 1118287517, p. 27.

External links

• Adams, A., et al. 2012. Albula vulpes. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. Downloaded on 2 June 2013.
• Chico Fernandez, Fly-fishing for Bonefish, 2004, ISBN 081170095X.
• Bonefish and Tarpon Conservation Research
• Hawaiian Bonefish Tagging Program
• Photos of Bonefish on Sealife Collection