View source for Bonefish

{{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 = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|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 [[Bonefishes|bonefish family]] (Albulidae), the only family in order Albuliformes.

==Taxonomy==
Bonefish were once believed to be a single [[species]] with a global distribution, however 9 different species have since been identified. There are three identified species in the [[Atlantic]] and six in the [[Pacific]]. ''Albula vulpes'' is the largest and most widespread of the Atlantic species.<ref name= "Suescun 2014" />

== Distribution ==
This species 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==
[[File:Albula vulpes scales.jpg|thumb|Scales of ''A. vulpes'']]
[[File:Albula vulpes head.jpg|thumb|Bonefish head]]
[[File:Bonefish.png|thumb|Illustration]]
The bonefish weighs up to {{convert|14|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and measures up to {{convert|79|cm|abbr=on|}} 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 fin]]s are sometimes yellow.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
Bonefish can live up to 20 years and reach sexual maturity at 2–3 years of age (when they're over 17 inches (43.18 cm) long). Larvae drift for an average of 53 days. Juveniles often live over open sandy bottoms.<ref name= "Suescun 2014" />

==Behavior==
An [[amphidromous]] species, it lives in inshore tropical waters and moves onto shallow [[mudflat]]s 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]] [[worm]]s, [[Fish larva|fry]], [[crustacean]]s, and [[mollusk]]s.<ref name="fishbase">{{FishBase|genus=Albula|species=vulpes|year=2007|month=June}}</ref> Ledges, drop-offs, and clean, healthy [[seagrass]] beds yield abundant small prey such as [[crab]]s and [[shrimp]]. It may follow [[stingray]]s to catch the small animals they root from 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 people ==

==={{anchor|Bonefishing}} Fishing ===
Bonefish are considered one of the premier [[fly fishing|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 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 [[catch and release|released]], but they 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>

Bonefish are 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}}.
* [http://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}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2014405}}

[[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]]