The Boga, Inermia vittata, is an ocean-going species of fish in the Bonnetmouth family, or Inermiidae. Bogas are also known as the Snit in Jamaica, and Bonnetmouth in the Bahamas.^[1] The Boga is the only known member of the genus Inermia, and one of only two species in its family (the other being Emmelichthyops atlanticus, which is also known as the Bonnetmouth). It was first described by the Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey. The description was part of a two-volume work, which Poey published in 1860, entitled Historia Natural de la Isla de Cuba or "Natural History of the Island of Cuba".

Description

The Boga is a spindle-shaped fish. It has a deeply forked caudal fin, and its two dorsal fins are close together. Boga are also able to protrude their mouths much further than many fishes^[2], hence the name Bonnetmouth.They usually have 14-15 spines on their dorsal fins, but only 10 soft rays. They have 2 spines and 9 rays on their anal fins as well^[3]. The longest recorded Boga was 23 cm in length^[4].

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. There are also three similar stripes 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 ^[5].

Distribution and habitat

The Boga is only known from the western Atlantic ocean from Florida and the Bahamas south to northern South America, including the Antilles and the Caribbean^[6].

Occurring in open water^[7], Bogas are sometimes found near coasts^[7] or over reefs^[8], though they can mainly be found off of oceanic islands ^[7], where they feed on zooplankton and smaller fishes ^[3]. Bogas are occasionally sold fresh, and used as baitfish^[3]; they are known to be preyed upon by the Red hind (Epinephelus guttatus), a member of the grouper family^[2].

References