# Bonefish > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bonefish > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bonefish.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonefish > Source revision: 1356235947 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Species of fish For the superclass of bony fishes, see [Osteichthyes](/source/Osteichthyes). For the United States Navy submarines, see [USS Bonefish](/source/USS_Bonefish). For the restaurant chain, see [Bonefish Grill](/source/Bonefish_Grill). Bonefish Conservation status Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[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[2][3] 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 The **bonefish** (***Albula vulpes***) or **bananafish**[4] is the [type species](/source/Type_species) of the [bonefish family](/source/Bonefishes) (Albulidae), the only family in order Albuliformes. ## Taxonomy Bonefish were once believed to be a single [species](/source/Species) with a global distribution, however 11 different species (all morphologically indistinguishable from each other) have since been identified. There are 3 identified species in the [Atlantic](/source/Atlantic) and 8 in the [Pacific](/source/Pacific), and *Albula vulpes* is the largest and most widespread of the Atlantic species.[5] ## Distribution The bonefish inhabits warm subtropical and tropical waters of the western Atlantic, and is found off the coasts of southern [Florida](/source/Florida), in the [Gulf of Mexico](/source/Gulf_of_Mexico), and around the [West Indies](/source/West_Indies).[1] ## Description Scales of *A. vulpes* Bonefish head Illustration The bonefish weighs up to 17 lb (7.7 kg) and measures up to 31 in (79 cm) 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.[5] Slight shading on the scales often leads to very soft subtle lines that run the flank of the fish from the gills to the tail. The bases of the [pectoral fins](/source/Pectoral_fin) are sometimes yellow.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The bonefish can live up to 20 years but reach sexual maturity at merely 2 to 3 years of age (when it is over 17 in (43 cm) long). Larvae drift for an average of 53 days, and juveniles often live over open sandy bottoms.[5] ## Behavior An [amphidromous](/source/Amphidromous) species, the bonefish lives in inshore tropical waters and moves onto shallow [mudflats](/source/Mudflat) or sand flats to feed with the incoming [tide](/source/Tide). Adults and juveniles may shoal together, and mature adults may be found singly or in pairs.[5] The bonefish feeds on [benthic](/source/Benthic) [worms](/source/Worm), [fry](/source/Fish_larva), [crustaceans](/source/Crustacean), and [mollusks](/source/Mollusk)[6] and may be seen around edges, drop-offs, and clean, healthy [seagrass](/source/Seagrass) beds, as these locations yield abundant small prey such as [crabs](/source/Crab) and [shrimp](/source/Shrimp). It may follow [stingrays](/source/Stingray) to catch the small animals they scare out of the substrate.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In the [Los Roques archipelago](/source/Los_Roques_archipelago), bonefish primarily hunt glass minnows, however this behavior is atypical.[7] ## Relationship with humans ### Fishing The bonefish is considered to be one of the premier [fly](/source/Fly_fishing) and light tackle game fish.[5] Fishing for bonefish, called bonefishing, is a popular sport in many places including the [Bahamas](/source/Bahamas), [Puerto Rico](/source/Puerto_Rico), and southern [Florida](/source/Florida). Since the bonefish lives in shallow inshore water, fishing may be done by wading or from a shallow-draft boat. Bonefishing is mostly done for sport, so the fish caught is [released](/source/Catch_and_release), but it may also be eaten in less developed areas.[8] The bonefish is notoriously wary, and great skill must be taken both in approach and presentation when fishing for them. English-speaking fishermen often refer to them as "grey ghosts".[5] ### As food A typical Bahamian recipe is a split fish seasoned with [pepper sauce](/source/Pepper_sauce) and salt, then baked.[8] ## See also - [Atlantic tarpon](/source/Atlantic_tarpon) - [Ladyfish](/source/Ladyfish) - [Milkfish](/source/Milkfish) - [Flats fishing](/source/Flats_fishing) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-1) Adams, A.; Guindon, K.; Horodysky, A.; MacDonald, T.; McBride, R.; Shenker, J.; Ward, R. (2012). ["*Albula vulpes*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194303/2310733). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2012** e.T194303A2310733. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T194303A2310733.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T194303A2310733.en). Retrieved 19 November 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Albulidae"](http://deeplyfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Family-Albulidae-PDF.pdf) (PDF). *Deeplyfish- fishes of the world*. Retrieved 18 May 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FB_3-0)** Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017). ["Albulidae"](http://www.fishbase.se/Summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=48). *[FishBase](/source/FishBase) version (02/2017)*. Retrieved 18 May 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Common Names List - Albula vulpes"](https://www.fishbase.se/ComNames/228). *www.fishbase.se*. Retrieved 2025-08-22. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Suescun_2014_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Suescun_2014_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Suescun_2014_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Suescun_2014_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Suescun_2014_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Suescun_2014_5-5) Suescun, Alex (24 December 2014). ["All About Bonefish"](https://www.saltwatersportsman.com/species/fish-species/all-about-bonefish/). *saltwatersportsman.com*. Salt Water Sportsman. Retrieved 10 December 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-fishbase_6-0)** [Froese, Rainer](/source/Rainer_Froese); [Pauly, Daniel](/source/Daniel_Pauly) (eds.). ["*Albula vulpes*"](https://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Albula&speciesname=vulpes). *[FishBase](/source/FishBase)*. June 2007 version. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Hudson, Sam (7 May 2014). ["Catch Bonefish with Lures"](https://www.sportfishingmag.com/species/fish-species/catch-bonefish-lures/). *www.sportfishingmag.com*. Sport Fishing Magazine. Retrieved 10 December 2020. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Frommer's_Bahamas_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Frommer's_Bahamas_8-1) Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince, *Frommer's Bahamas*, 20th edition, 2012, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1118287517](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1118287517), p. 27. ## External links - Adams, A., et al. 2012. [*Albula vulpes*.](http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/194303/0) In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. Downloaded on 2 June 2013. - [Fly Fishing for Bonefish: Crazy Charlie Fly Pattern](https://stoella.com/fly-patterns/crazy-charlie-fly-pattern/) - Chico Fernandez, *Fly-fishing for Bonefish*, 2004, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [081170095X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/081170095X). - [Bonefish and Tarpon Conservation Research](https://www.bonefishresearch.com) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181217021356/http://bonefishresearch.com/) 2018-12-17 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) - [Hawaiian Bonefish Tagging Program](https://web.archive.org/web/20110930010449/http://www.oiotaggingproject.com/) - Photos of [Bonefish](https://sealifecollection.org/taxon/212256) in the Sealife Collection Taxon identifiers Albula vulpes Wikidata: Q2014405 Wikispecies: Albula vulpes ADW: Albula_vulpes BioLib: 139832 BOLD: 10470 CoL: 65W5L EoL: 46581467 FishBase: 228 GBIF: 5204104 iNaturalist: 63718 IRMNG: 10755406 ITIS: 161121 IUCN: 194303 NAS: 303 NCBI: 54909 OBIS: 212256 Open Tree of Life: 133398 Plazi: 4BD85916-30EF-C133-B7C2-035A4F138ED7 WoRMS: 212256 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bonefish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonefish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonefish?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.