Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Food and feeding of the marine catfish Tachysurus dussumieri (Valenciennes) along the Dakshina Kannada Coast, Karnataka.

Volume 34 Issue 1&2

C. Vasudevappa and P. S. B. R. James.

Abstract

Results of the study on the food and feeding habits of the marine catfish Tachysurus dussumieri along the Dakshina Kannada Coast from September 1975 to May 1976, indicated that Squilla sp. was the most important item of food of fish above 300 mm total length (TL). Other important items of food were oilsardine, crabs and molluscs. Fish above 530 mm seem to prefer oilsardine and those below 300 mm feed mainly on polychaetes, prawns, unidentifiable fishes, Squilla sp., crabs, crustacean remains, small bivalves and copepods. Fish above 300 mm feed both at bottom and surface, whereas those below 300 mm feed mainly at the sea bottom. The feeding intensity of fish above 300 mm was high from January to March and low from October to December, April and May. The feeding intensity of fish below 300 mm size was high in all the months. Diurnal vertical migrations of the species appear to be associated with diurnal movements of the food organisms.

Date : 31-10-1992