10/05/2026
A few days ago, we received an invitation to attend a conference given by scientists from the Chetumal unit of ECOSUR, where they shared valuable information about bonefish and the different species found in Chetumal Bay.
We are sharing this valuable information here and thank the biologists and organizers for the opportunity to participate and share their experiences.
This is a summary of the presentation:
Bonefish in the Mexican Caribbean
Albula spp. Species Complex
Bonefish are not a single species, but rather a group of fish with almost identical physical characteristics but genetically distinct characteristics. In the Mexican Caribbean region (Punta Allen, Xcalak, and Chetumal Bay), three main types coexist.
🧬 1. The 3 Main Species
Because they are cryptic species (physically identical), the use of genetic tools such as the Barcode (COI) has been fundamental for their identification:
Species
Status in the Region
Scientific Notes
Albula vulpes
Common
The most well-known species for sport fishing. It represents 31.2% of the genetic samples analyzed.
Albula sp. cf. vulpes
Dominant
This species does not yet have an officially valid name. It is the most abundant in its larval stage (65.6%).
Albula goreensis
Rare
Present in the region but in very low proportions (3.2% of the total analyzed).
Key Fact: There is a fourth species, Albula nemoptera, which is visually distinguished by having long filaments on its fins, but it is much less common in coastal recruitment studies.
🌊 2. Life Cycle and Recruitment
The bonefish has a fascinating life cycle that connects the open ocean with the coast:
• Migration: Adults migrate offshore to spawning grounds in deep water.
• Leptocephalic Stage: The larvae are transparent, with a small head and a highly compressed body.
• Larval Shrinkage: Before becoming juveniles, the larvae undergo a process where they reduce their size (Stage II).
• Larval Duration: They spend between 41 and 71 days (average of 56) floating in the ocean before returning to the coast.
📍 3. Findings in the Mexican Caribbean (CarMEx)
Studies conducted by Lourdes Vásquez-Yeomans (ECOSUR) reveal impressive data about the area:
Where and When?
• Key sites: Punta Allen, Xcalak, and the Zaragoza Canal.
• Season: Peak larval arrivals occur mainly on nights with a new moon (January is a critical month).
Record Abundance
The Mexican Caribbean is an area of extremely high recruitment compared to other areas:
• Bahamas: Average of 18.7 larvae per night.
• Mexican Caribbean: Peaks of up to 586.5 larvae per night have been recorded in light trap sampling.
🎣 4. Importance for Conservation
• Identification Impossible: It is virtually impossible to differentiate adults and larvae with the naked eye; DNA analysis is required.
• Recreational Fishing: A. vulpes is the driving force behind catch-and-release sport fishing, vital to the economy of communities like Xcalak and Chetumal.
• Habitat Protection: Chetumal Bay and its shallow waters are critical "nursery" areas for larvae to develop into the adults that sustain the fishery.
Source: Research by Vásquez-Yeomans, L., Sosa Cordero, E., and Valdez Moreno, M. (ECOSUR - Chetumal Unit).
