FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF PRIACANTHUS HAMRUR FROM MUMBAI, NORTH WEST COAST OF INDIA

Abstract

Priacanthus hamrur is found to be a carnivorous species, feeding mainly on crustaceans (Acetes spp., prawn, crab juvenile, isopod, amphipod and megalopa larvae), fishes (Bregmaceros mcclellandi, Saurida tumbil, Decapterus russelli Cociella crocodile, Nemipterus spp., Apogon spp., Cynoglossus spp., myctophid, ribbon fish, silverbelly, eel and sciaenids) and cephalopods (Sepia spp., Octopus spp., Loligo spp.). Month-wise index of preponderance and index of relative importance indicate crustaceans to be the dominant food item during all the months except August where fishes were the dominant food. Crustaceans were preferred by all the length groups and also recorded in all the months of the year. Sex-wise food composition showed no significant difference in food preference. Analysis of degree of fullness of stomachs indicated high feeding intensity during January, May, August and September, while June was the moth of minimum intensity for both the sexes. Values of gastro-somatic index also indicated lowest feeding intensity during June for both sexes. Similarly, length-wise analysis revealed smaller size groups to have higher feeding intensity. Low feeding intensity in June may be due to breeding stress. It was high for length group 260-279 mm and 180-199 mm and lowest for 120-139 mm in male. For female, highest intensity was reported in 180-199 mm, and 140-159 mm, and lowest for larger size. Low feeding in larger fishes may be due to breeding stress as mentioned earlier.

 

Keywords: Priacanthus hamrur, food and feeding, Mumbai coast.