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
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
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