Bonefish (Albula vulpes) fish species and information / pictures of Bonefish - Albula vulpes

Bonefish (Albula vulpes) fish species information

Scientific Name
Albula vulpes

Common Name
Bonefish

Biology
Inhabits shallow coastal waters, estuaries and bays, over sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 3237). Often in schools, except large individuals which are solitary (Ref. 7251). Dorsal fin may show above surface (Ref. 42064). More or less pelagic but feeds on benthic worms, crustaceans, and mollusks (Ref. 2850). Tolerates oxygen poor water by inhaling air into a lung-like airbladder (Ref. 9710). Flesh is bony and not esteemed (Ref. 9268). One of the most important game fishes worldwide

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Bonefishes (Albuliformes)

Family

Bonefishes (Albulidae)

Distribution

Region

Distribution

Worldwide in warm seas. Hawaiian species have been verified by electrophoretic analysis (Ref. 5577), hence, Albula vulpes might be further split. The next available name for the West African form is Albula goreensis, Valenciennes, 1846. Eastern Pacific: California, USA to Peru (Ref. 2850). Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to Florida, Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, Antilles and Caribbean to Brazil (Ref. 26938). Northwest Atlantic: Canada

Range

45°N - 31°S, 159°W - 35°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

84 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 84 m (Ref. 13608), usually 1 - 15 m

Trophic Level

3.67 s.e. 0.57 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

104 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5015 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.3; tm=2)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated