Bonefishes are elongate, fusiform fishes with a conical snout and a subterminal mouth. Like their relatives, the ladyfish and tarpon, bonefishes begin life as leptocephalus larvae and possess a gular plate. However, the gular plate of bonefishes is rudimentary and easily overlooked. Bonefishes are sought by many sportsmen, but are of little value as foodfish due to the numerous small bones in the flesh. Bonefishes are shallow-water, nearshore inhabitants that forage on sandy or muddy bottoms for worms, mollusks, and small fishes.