A survey on food regime of catfish Arius dussumieri in the Oman Sea

Document Type : Biology(Animal)

Authors

1 Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

2 National Institute of Fisheries Research, Agricultural Research, Education and Promotion Organization, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Due to study the food regime of Arius dussumieri, a total of 132 specimens were collected from the Oman Sea waters. The length – weight relationship was calculated as: W=aL2.91 in which it shows the isometric growth. The stomach content, were taken into consideration and it  was  found  that  the  amount  of  full,  semi-full  and  empty  stomachs  were  31,  33  and  36  %, respectively;  of  which  the  highest  frequency  was  in  winter  (74%)  and  the  lowest was  in summer  (24%).  The  GaSI shows  better  feeding  condition  of A.dussumieri in  spring  and summer but feeding frequency (mostly in males)  were decreased in  autumn and winter. The Food  Preference  (FP)  Index  was  estimated  as:  fishes  (39%),  crustacean  (40%)  and  molluscs (20%)  namely  all  of  them  are  considered  as  minor  food  in  all  four seasons.  The  most important  food  items  were  identified  as  1)  fishes  consist  of:  Carangid,  Engraulids  and Leiognathids;  2)  crustaceans  as  crabs:  Portunidae  and  Porcellanidae  families;  shrimp: Alpheidae family; and 3) mollusks consist of cephalopods: Loliginidae and Opisthoteuthidae; gastropods: Muricidae and Naticidae.

Keywords

Journal of Animal Environment
Volume 5, Issue 3
November 2012
Pages 67-76

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