Albula gilberti
| Albula gilberti | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Albuliformes |
| Family: | Albulidae |
| Genus: | Albula |
| Species: | A. gilberti
|
| Binomial name | |
| Albula gilberti Pfeiler & van der Heiden, 2011
| |
Albula gilberti, also known as the Cortez bonefish or macabi, is a species of bonefish in the eastern Pacific from the Southern California Bight to the Sea of Cortez and Sinaloa.
Taxonomy
In general, the morphology of the genus Albula is highly conserved, making a description of species based on morphological features very difficult.[1] The closest relative of this species is considered to be its sister species Albula esuncula. It is estimated that their lineages split about 5.0-8.8 million years ago.[2]
Distribution
This species is found in the Eastern Pacific. It ranges from the Southern California Bight to the bottom of the Baja California Peninsula and Sinaloa. It also occurs within the Sea of Cortez. At the bottom-most stretch of occurrence, A. gilberti is sympatric with A. esuncula.[3]
Description
The Cortez bonefish has a maximum known standard length of 25.7cm.[4] It has a fusiform body with an inferior mouth and a forked tail. The fish is covered in large silver scales, with a gradient from the gray dorsal side to the white ventral side. Vertical stripes are sometimes visible emerging from the dorsal side. Occasionally, portions of the pectoral, pelvic, and fins are observed to be orange.[5]
There is no concrete evidence that fully supports the usage of any morphological characteristic to distinguish the Cortez bonefish from Albula esuncla, the eastern Pacific bonefish.[6] Rather, the two species are only distinguished by genetic analysis.[4]
As a member of the superorder Elopomorpha, Cortez bonefish have leptocephalus larva.[3] After the larva metamorphose into a fusiform shape, they remain clear but appear to have black vertical stripes.[7] Eventually, juvenile fish simply appear as smaller versions of the adults.
Behavior
No research has been conducted on this species specifically. Other bonefish species of near-identical morphology are known to eat a wide variety of benthic prey and inhabit shallow sand flats and sea grass beds.[8]
Human interaction
As the name implies, Cortez bonefish are bony and are not consumed in great numbers.
A population of Cortez bonefish in San Diego Bay constitutes a minor recreational fishery.[9] The current IGFA world record Cortez bonefish was caught in San Diego Bay by William Brent Evans and weighed 0.77kg.[10]
References
- ^ Colborn, Jeff; Crabtree, Roy E.; Shaklee, James B.; Pfeiler, Edward; Bowen, Brian W. (2007-05-09). "THE EVOLUTIONARY ENIGMA OF BONEFISHES (ALBULA SPP.): CRYPTIC SPECIES AND ANCIENT SEPARATIONS IN A GLOBALLY DISTRIBUTED SHOREFISH". Evolution. 55 (4): 807–820. doi:10.1111/j.0014-3820.2001.tb00816.x.
- ^ Pfeiler, E.; Watts, T.; Pugh, J.; Van DerHeiden, A. M. (August 2008). "Speciation and demographic history of the Cortez bonefish, Albula sp. A (Albuliformes: Albulidae), in the Gulf of California inferred from mitochondrial DNA". Journal of Fish Biology. 73 (2): 382–394. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.01892.x. ISSN 0022-1112.
- ^ a b Picket, B. D.; Wallace, E. M.; Ridge, P. D.; Kauwe, J. S. K. (2020). "Lingering Taxonomic Challenges Hinder Conservation and Management of Global Bonefishes". Fisheries. 45 (7): 347–358.
- ^ a b Pfeiler, Edward; Heiden, Albert M. Van Der; Ruboyianes, Ryan S.; Watts, Tom (2011-11-02). "Albula gilberti, a new species of bonefish (Albuliformes: Albulidae) from the eastern Pacific, and a description of adults of the parapatric A. esuncula". Zootaxa. 3088 (1): 1–14. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3088.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334.
- ^ "Observations". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
- ^ "Albula gilberti summary page". FishBase. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
- ^ nudibae (May 2024). "Cortez Bonefish (Albula gilberti)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
- ^ Zurcher, Natalia; Farmer, Nicholas; Perusquia, Eduardo; Luo, Jiangang; Ault, Jerald; Posada, Juan; Smith, Steven; Barbieri, Luiz; Humston, Robert (October 2007), Ault, Jerald (ed.), "Population Dynamics and Resource Ecology of Atlantic Tarpon and Bonefish", Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries, vol. 20074112, CRC Press, pp. 217–258, doi:10.1201/9781420004250.sec3, ISBN 978-0-8493-2792-6, retrieved 2026-02-25
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link) - ^ "Cortez Bonefish". Pier Fishing in California. 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
- ^ "IGFA Member Services". igfa.org. Retrieved 2026-02-25.