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Boga (Haemulon vittatum) — Haemulidae

Boga

Haemulon vittatum
Family: Haemulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Boga (Haemulon vittatum) is a saltwater fish of the family Haemulidae that grows up to 23 cm.

Length
23 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
15.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The boga is a grunt from the western Atlantic, from Florida and Bermuda through the Caribbean to Brazil. The species grows to about 23 cm and has a slender, streamlined, silvery body with fine dark longitudinal lines and a forked tail. Unlike most grunts it forms large schools in open water above reefs and slopes, where it catches zooplankton from the current. The fish is a valued bait and food fish and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Boga?

The Boga has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Boga live?

The Boga lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Boga get?

The Boga grows to a maximum of about 23 cm. On average the species is around 18 cm.

Is the Boga dangerous to humans?

No, the Boga is harmless to humans.

Is the Boga edible?

Yes, the Boga is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Boga verified
English name
Boga verified
Scientific name
Haemulon vittatum
Family
Haemulidae
Other names
Boga; Bonnetmouth; Snit verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
23.0 verified
Average length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Haemulon

More from the family Haemulidae

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