ALBULIDAE Bonefish

Represented by a single species. The bonefish is elongate, streamlined cigar-shaped with a conspicuous protruding snout. Large-scaled, they are known to game anglers as 'silver ghosts'. They possess a second fleshy dorsal adipose fin. Not surprisingly, this fish takes its name from the many small bones which also make it a poor contender for the fish souks. Occasional specimens do turn up, generally taken in inshore gill nets. They are grazers using their underslung mouth to feed on crustaceans and invertebrates as well as predating on small fish. In shallow water, they can be observed with their tails above the surface as they grub along the bottom for crabs and shrimps. Local concentrations are found in shallows with good tidal flow and often associated with sea grasses.

Bonefish Albula vulpes Arabic name, Bonouk

Silvery, ghost-like, conspicuous protruding snout, streamlined, large-scaled. They possess a second fleshy dorsal adipose fin. Shallow inshore grassbeds, tidal sandy inlets and creeks. Local distribution uncertain and not significant as food fish. Feeds on shrimps, molluscs, small fish and invertebrates. 120 cm.