Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Diurnal Variation in the feeding habits of Dussumieria acuta Val. from the gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay.

Volume 24 Issue 1&2

P. N. Radhakrishnan Nair

Abstract

A distinct variation in the feeding intensity was noticed in Dussumieria acuta between the day and night. This was due to the diurnal variation in the feeding habits of this fish, feeding actively during day time and starving during the night. The study over a period of two years in 1969-70 and 1970-71 showed that in day samples only 6.05% fish during the first year and 2.57% fish during the second year were with empty stomachs, whereas in the night samples 98.33% during the first year and 98.16% during the second year were either with empty or with 'little' stomachs.

Date : 30-12-1982