The bonefish (Albula vulpes) is the type species of the Albulidae family, or bonefishes in order Albuliformes. It is amphidromous, living in inshore tropical waters, moving onto shallow mudflats to feed with the incoming tide, and retreating to deeper water as the tide ebbs. Juvenile bonefish may be observed in large shoals of like-sized individuals with large mature fish swimming in smaller groups or in pairs. Bonefish are considered to be among the world’s premier fly game fish and are highly sought after by anglers. Bonefish are primarily caught for sport. They are not commonly eaten.

Prior to the development of the University of Miami’s bonefish research program, little was known about the spatial distribution bonefish stock abundance or the movements of animals between important fishing areas of south Florida and the Florida Keys.