Albula Temporal range: Late Cretaceous to present
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Bonefish (A. vulpes) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Albuliformes |
Family: | Albulidae |
Subfamily: | Albulinae |
Genus: | Albula Gronow 1763 ex Scopoli 1777 non Osbeck 1765 non Bloch & Schneider 1801 non Catesby 1771 |
Synonyms | |
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Albula is an ancient genus of fish belonging to the family Albulidae. Members of this genus inhabit warm coastal waters worldwide.[1]
This genus contains many of the species popularly referred to as bonefish, which are vital components of both subsistence fisheries and sport fishing industries worldwide; this, in conjunction with destruction of breeding habitat, has led to population declines in many species.[2]
Bonefish were once believed to be a single species with a global distribution; however, 11 distinct species have since been identified. There are three identified species in the Atlantic and eight in the Pacific.[3] All species are morphologically indistinguishable from one another and can only be reliably distinguished with genetic evidence, but all of them diverged from one another between 4 and 20 million years ago.[4][5]
The oldest fossils belonging to this genus are from the Late Cretaceous of Alabama and Uzbekistan.[6]
The 11 currently recognized living species in this genus are:[7]