134 Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 



length beyond tip of lower jaw. Caudal skeleton (jp: 269-275) exhibiting some 

 ganoid characters, showing a relationship with that primitive group. Vertebrae: last 

 2 or 3 in A. vulpes out of line with central axis, directed somewhat dorsally; massive 

 spines (neurals) attached to them and preceding segment, extending into base of upper 

 lobe of caudal. Alimentary canal appearing as a straight tube in larvae, becoming 

 modified in the adult with development of a very large stomach that occupies fully 

 67 7o of the length of abdominal cavity If distended with food; stomach largely a 

 blind sac; the cardiac and pyloric orifices rather close together. About 13 Pyloric 

 coeca, bound together, forming a sort of sheath over part of stomach. Air bladder 

 very long, extending backward far beyond vent, its walls very thin, without lung 

 tissue (see tarpon) except for a pair of very small kidney-shaped cellular bodies 

 attached ventrally at about midlength. 



Remarks. This genus differs from Dixonina chiefly in that the last ray of both 

 dorsal and anal is short and does not become prolonged in adults; see also Key, p. 133. 

 From E/ops it is distinguishable by the absence of a gular plate (p. 123). 



Range. Only one modern species, Albula vulpes^ Is generally recognized; this 

 occurs in virtually all warm seas. 



Albula vulpes (Linnaeus) 1758 



Bonefish, Grubber, Bananafish 



Figures 22, 23 



Study Material. An almost complete growth series ranging from leptocephall with 

 virtually undeveloped dorsal and anal fins to adults 430 mm TL, from both Atlantic 

 and Pacific. As the growth series was not complete in the material from the Atlantic, 

 some specimens, especially the older stages of leptocephall and first stages of young 

 adults, from the Pearl Islands in Panama Bay, were used in describing the young. 



Distinctive Characters. See Remarks., above. 



Description. Proportional dimensions In per cent of standard length, and counts, 

 based on Atlantic adults only. 



Body: depth at origin of dorsal 20—23 in Anal fin: length of base 5.1—6.75. 



large specimens, 14—19 in young Pectoral fin: length 15—19. 



adults. 



Caudal peduncle: depth 6.9—8.9. Scales: 65—71. 



Head: length 27.5-32. Gill rakers: 7 or 8+ 9 or 10. 



Snout: length 11. 5-13. 6 in large sped- Fin rays: dorsal 17 or 18, rarely 19; 



mens, 8.5-10 In young adults. anal 8 or 9; pectoral 16 or 17, 



Eye: diameter 5.5—8.0 rarely 15. 



Maxillary: length from tip of snout 9.1— Vertebrae: 72-74 (5 specimens). 



12.7. 



