Boga (Haemulon vittatum)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Eupercaria incertae sedis · Family: Haemulidae · Genus: Haemulon.

Accepted name: Haemulon vittatum · Authority: (Poey, 1860) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 1021254.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Haemulon vittata (Poey, 1860); Inermia vittata Poey, 1860.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1021254 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Haemulon vittatum. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 23 cm · Common length: 18 cm · Depth range: 15–50 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: elongated · Vulnerability index: 13 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Occurs in open water (Ref. 9710); sometimes found near the coast, mainly near oceanic islands (Ref. 5217). Sometimes found over coral heads (Ref. 9710). Feeds on zooplankton and small fishes. Marketed fresh.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 3572) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Haemulon-vittatum.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

21,304 georeferenced occurrence records for Haemulon vittatum are published through GBIF from 25 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 49 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 7 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (18,581); Puerto Rico (2,347); Virgin Islands (U.S.) (110); Mexico (57); Guadeloupe (51).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 7193166) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=7193166&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1021254 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Haemulon vittatum (Poey, 1860) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 16509426) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16509426/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 7193166) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/7193166/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Haemulon vittatum is a spindle-shaped fish. It has a deeply forked caudal fin, and its two dorsal fins are close together.

It is also able to protrude its mouth much further than many fishes, hence the name bonnetmouth. They usually have 14-15 spines on their dorsal fins, but only 10 soft rays. They have two spines and 9 rays on their anal fins, as well.

The boga's life colors are generally greenish above, and blueish-white below. A greenish stripe, tinged with yellow, can be seen from the eye to the tail.

Three similar stripes are on the back. The snout and dorsal fins are both yellowish or pale yellow, while the caudal fin is dusky violet. The pectoral fins are both rosy, and the anal and ventral fins are both white.

Haemulon vittatum is only known from the western Atlantic Ocean from Florida and the Bahamas south to northern South America, including the Antilles and the Caribbean.

Occurring in open water, Bogas are sometimes found near coasts or over reefs they can mainly be found off of oceanic islands, where they feed on zooplankton and smaller fishes. Bogas are occasionally sold fresh, and used as baitfish; they are known to be preyed upon by the red hind (Epinephelus guttatus), a member of the grouper family.

Haemolon vittatum was first formally described as Inermia vittata in 1860 by the Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey (1799-1891) with the type locality given as Havana. The specific name vittatum means "banded", which is assumed to refer to the wide greenish stripe running from the eye to the base of caudal fin and the 3-4 brownish stripes above it.

Source: Wikipedia: Haemulon vittatum — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haemulon_vittatum (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.