{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{About||the superclass of bony fishes|Osteichthyes|the United States Navy submarines|USS Bonefish|the restaurant chain|Bonefish Grill}} {{Speciesbox | image = Bonefish Albula vulpes.jpg | status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name = "iucn">{{cite iucn |author=Adams, A. |author2=Guindon, K. |author3=Horodysky, A. |author4=MacDonald, T. |author5=McBride, R.|author6=Shenker, J. |author7=Ward, R. |date=2012 |title=''Albula vulpes'' |volume=2012 |article-number=e.T194303A2310733 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T194303A2310733.en |access-date=19 November 2021 }}</ref> | genus = Albula | species = vulpes | authority = (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Albulidae |url=http://deeplyfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Family-Albulidae-PDF.pdf |website=Deeplyfish- fishes of the world |access-date=18 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="FB">{{cite web |title=Albulidae |url=http://www.fishbase.se/Summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=48 |last1=Froese |first1=R. |last2=Pauly |first2=D. |year=2017 |website=FishBase version (02/2017) |access-date=18 May 2017}}</ref> | synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true|title=<small>Species</small> | ''Esox vulpes'' <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small> | ''Vulpis vulpes'' <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small> | ?''Albula lacustris'' <small>Walbaum, 1792</small> | ''Albula conoryncha'' <small>Bloch & Schneider, 1801</small> | ''Clupea brasiliensis'' <small>Bloch & Schneider, 1801 non Steindachner, 1879</small> | ''Albula plumieri'' <small>Bloch & Schneider, 1801</small> | ''Amia immaculata'' <small>Bloch & Schneider, 1801</small> | ''Clupea macrocephala'' <small>Lacépède, 1803</small> | ''Conorynchus macrocephalus'' <small>(Lacépède, 1803)</small> | ?''Butyrinus bananus'' <small>Lacepède, 1803</small> | ''Glossodus forskalii'' <small>Spix & Agassiz, 1829</small> | ''Engraulis bahiensis'' <small>Spix, 1829</small> | ''Engraulis serica'' <small>Spix, 1829</small> | ''Albula parrae'' <small>Valenciennes, 1847</small> | ''Albula goreensis'' <small>Valenciennes, 1847</small> | ''Esunculus costai'' <small>Kaup, 1856</small> | ''Vulpis bahamensis'' <small>Catesby, 1771</small> | ''Albulas gronovii'' <small>Walbaum, 1792</small> | ''Albula rostrata'' <small>Gronow, 1854</small> | ?''Albula unbarana'' <small>Marcgrave ex de Castelnau, 1855</small> }} }}
The '''bonefish''' ('''''Albula vulpes''''') or '''bananafish'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Common Names List - Albula vulpes |url=https://www.fishbase.se/ComNames/228 |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=www.fishbase.se}}</ref> is the type species of the bonefish family (Albulidae), the only family in order Albuliformes.
==Taxonomy== Bonefish were once believed to be a single 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 and 8 in the Pacific, and ''Albula vulpes'' is the largest and most widespread of the Atlantic species.<ref name= "Suescun 2014" />
== Distribution == The bonefish inhabits warm subtropical and tropical waters of the western Atlantic, and is found off the coasts of southern Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, and around the West Indies.<ref name = "iucn"></ref>
==Description== thumb|Scales of ''A. vulpes'' thumb|Bonefish head thumb|Illustration The bonefish weighs up to {{convert|17|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and measures up to {{convert|31|in|abbr=on|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.<ref name= "Suescun 2014" /> 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 are sometimes yellow.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
The bonefish can live up to 20 years but reach sexual maturity at merely 2 to 3 years of age (when it is over {{Convert|17|in|cm|abbr=on}} long). Larvae drift for an average of 53 days, and juveniles often live over open sandy bottoms.<ref name="Suescun 2014" />
==Behavior== An amphidromous species, the bonefish lives in inshore tropical waters and moves onto shallow mudflats or sand flats to feed with the incoming tide. Adults and juveniles may shoal together, and mature adults may be found singly or in pairs.<ref name= "Suescun 2014" />
The bonefish feeds on benthic worms, fry, crustaceans, and mollusks<ref name="fishbase">{{FishBase|genus=Albula|species=vulpes|year=2007|month=June}}</ref> and may be seen around edges, drop-offs, and clean, healthy seagrass beds, as these locations yield abundant small prey such as crabs and shrimp. It may follow stingrays to catch the small animals they scare out of the substrate.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
In the Los Roques archipelago, bonefish primarily hunt glass minnows, however this behavior is atypical.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hudson |first1=Sam |title=Catch Bonefish with Lures |url=https://www.sportfishingmag.com/species/fish-species/catch-bonefish-lures/ |website=www.sportfishingmag.com |date=7 May 2014 |publisher=Sport Fishing Magazine |access-date=10 December 2020}}</ref>
== Relationship with humans ==
===Fishing === The bonefish is considered to be one of the premier fly and light tackle game fish.<ref name= "Suescun 2014" >{{cite web |last1=Suescun |first1=Alex |title=All About Bonefish |url=https://www.saltwatersportsman.com/species/fish-species/all-about-bonefish/ |website=saltwatersportsman.com |date=24 December 2014 |publisher=Salt Water Sportsman |access-date=10 December 2020}}</ref> Fishing for bonefish, called bonefishing, is a popular sport in many places including the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and southern 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, but it may also be eaten in less developed areas.<ref name= "Frommer's Bahamas" >Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince, ''Frommer's Bahamas'', 20th edition, 2012, {{ISBN|1118287517}}, p. 27.</ref>
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".<ref name= "Suescun 2014" />
===As food=== A typical Bahamian recipe is a split fish seasoned with pepper sauce and salt, then baked.<ref name= "Frommer's Bahamas" />
==See also== * Atlantic tarpon * Ladyfish * Milkfish * Flats fishing
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * Adams, A., et al. 2012. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/194303/0 ''Albula vulpes''.] In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. Downloaded on 2 June 2013. * [https://stoella.com/fly-patterns/crazy-charlie-fly-pattern/ Fly Fishing for Bonefish: Crazy Charlie Fly Pattern] * Chico Fernandez, ''Fly-fishing for Bonefish'', 2004, {{ISBN|081170095X}}. * [https://www.bonefishresearch.com Bonefish and Tarpon Conservation Research] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217021356/http://bonefishresearch.com/ |date=2018-12-17 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110930010449/http://www.oiotaggingproject.com/ Hawaiian Bonefish Tagging Program] * {{sealifephotos|212256}}
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Category:Albuliformes Category:Fish of the Caribbean Category:Fish described in 1758 Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Category:Fish of Aruba Category:Marine fish of Nicaragua