The Bonefishes (Albulidae): The Albulidae or Bonefish Family consists of only one genus, Albula, and therefore characteristics of the family and the genus are the same.

The bonefishes are of keen scientific interest because of their primitive nature and thus linked to studies of the evolutionary process. Bonefishes are silvery bottom dwelling fishes that have conical heads with small mouths that do not reach past their eyes, snouts that overhang their mouths and sloping foreheads. They have one short dorsal fin located at mid-body, pectoral fins and short pelvic fins that are low on the body, and in the rear half, originating behind the dorsal origin, a deeply forked caudal fin. A straight lateral line runs the entire length of the body. The fins are without spines.

The bonefish get their name from the numerous fine bones found in their flesh. Globally there are six species of Albulidae, of which two are found in the tropical Eastern Pacific and both in Mexican waters: the Shafted Bonefish, Albula nemoptera, and the Eastern Pacific Bonefish, Albula esuncula.