bonefish

Bonefish
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Albuliformes
Family:	Albulidae
Genus:	Albula
Species:	A. vulpes
Binomial name
Albula vulpes Linnaeus, 1758

The bonefish is the type species of the Albulidae, or bonefishes. It is amphidromous, living in inshore tropical waters, moving onto shallow tidal flats to feed with the incoming tide, and retreating to deeper water as the tide ebbs. Juvenile bonefish may be observed in large shoals of like-sized individuals with large mature fish swimming in smaller groups or in pairs. Bonefish are considered to be among the world's premier Fly game fish and are highly sought after by anglers. Bonefish are primarily caught for sport. They are not commonly eaten. In Hawaii, bonefish known as ʻōʻio are eaten. ^[1]

Description

Weight up to 10 kg, Length to 104 cm. Silvery in colour with dusky fins—the bases of the pectoral fins are yellow. Heavily schooling fish, with some of the larger individuals traveling singly or in schools.

The bonefish, also known as phantom or gray ghost, is probably pound for pound the strongest and fastest running animal in the collective of salt-water fish. Bonefishing is a deep-water pursuit done in depths ranging from 18 to 88 feet. Ledge sporting currents; dropoffs along the edge and clean, healthy seagrass beds produce abundant small crabs and shrimps that bonefish prey upon. Bonefish are known to follow stingrays, looking for small prey items disturbed by the rooting stingrays.

Diet

Known to feed on benthic worms, fry, crustaceans, and molluscs.^[1]

Habitat and Range

Bonefish are found in warm seas worldwide.^[1]The fish primarily inhabit the shallow sand and grass flats of warm tropical waters, but also spend a good amount of their lives in deep water, up to a thousand feet in depth. This behavior was first documented in the deep waters surrounding Hawaii.

Points of note

An important game fish. This fish may improve its tolerance to oxygen-poor water by inhaling air into a lung-like airbladder. Live Shrimp and grilled steak are some of the most effective baits for this species.^[1]

References

External links

• Bonefish and Tarpon Conservation Research