Boga

Haemulon vittatum is a species of marine fish in the family Haemulidae.

Description

The boga is a small sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 23 cm, but the ones usually observed are rather 18 cm. It has a laterally compressed and spindle-shape body with a forked caudal fin. Its background color is silver blue with dark horizontal lines. Its mouth is highly protrusible and underlined with bronze yellow.

Distribution & habitat

The boga is widespread throughout the western Atlantic Ocean from South Carolina state to the cost of Venezuela, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

The boga lives in open water sometimes close to islands and it can also be observed on top of reefs for cleaning or resting between 15 and 50 meters deep.

Biology

The boga lives in large school and feeds on zooplankton and rarely on tiny fishes.