Diet composition and food habits of Caranx rhonchus (Carangidae) from the Gulf of Gabes (central Mediterranean)

Abstract

Caranx rhonchus (Carangidae) ranging from 6.5 to 30.6 cm in total length (TL), fished in the Gulf of Gabes (south Tunisia, central Mediterranean), were used to investigate feeding habits of the species. This study was based mainly on the evolution of the index of relative importance (IRI) with respect to sex, fish size and season. Among 1040 stomachs examined, 595 were empty (%VI ¼ 57.2). The vacuity index (%VI) differed significantly across months and declined slightly with season. A total of 13 species representing 12 different families belonging to four major groups: teleosts, crustaceans, molluscs and annelids, were identified in stomach contents of Caranx rhonchus.Caranx rhonchus is primarily an opportunistic piscivorous fish with a diet characterized by a wide range of species. Teleosts occurred in the majority of stomachs, with a total of the relative importance (%IRI) of 52.7%. The anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus were the most important teleost species (%IRI ¼ 11.2), while crustaceans were the second most important food category consumed (47.1%).There were no significant differences in the diet between males and females, but significant differences were found with season and among size-classes.

Diet composition and overlap for 43 fishes in the North Aegean Sea, Greece

“…The piscivorous nature of both species was verified in this study, as previously shown in other parts of the world (e.g. C. rhonchus: SLEY et al, (2007SLEY et al, ( , 2008; P. saltatrix: JUANES et al, (1993);DHIEB et al,(2001)). However, in order to determine their feeding preferences, potential diet overlap and competition for food resources in the area properly, a larger sample size of both species needs to be examined and a finer grouping of prey items is required.…”

Food and feeding habits ofCaranx crysosfrom the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia)

“…Comparable studies about the food habits of other members of the family Carangidae have been carried out in the same region. The results from the present study suggest that the diet of C. crysos most closely resembles that of false scad, Caranx rhonchus (Sley et al , 2008), with both species feeding primarily on teleosts. However, studies on the diets of horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus from the Tunisian coasts (Fezzani, 2006) and in the central Adriatic Sea (Santic et al , 2004), and pilotfish, Naucrates ductor in Sicilian waters indicated that these species fed mainly on zooplanktonic crustaceans, whilst teleosts were of minor importance.…”

Hábitos alimenticios de Caranx vinctus (Perciformes: Carangidae), especie de importancia comercial en la bahía de Acapulco, Guerrero, México

“…Los resultados de este trabajo indican que, en la bahía de Acapulco, Guerrero C. vinctus se alimenta de una gran variedad de presas zooplanctónicas, representadas por crustáceos y huevos y larvas de peces, así como pequeños peces de la familia Engraulidae. Otras especies de la familia Carangidae que también basan su alimentación en crustáceos y peces se han considerado como depredadores especialistas (Roux & Conand, 2000;Sley, Jarboui, Ghorbel, & Bouain, 2008;Flores-Ortega et al, 2010;Sánchez-García et al 2017).…”

“…ISSN Impreso: 0034-7744 ISSN electrónico: 2215-2075 principalmente con redes de enmalle, línea de mano y con arpón (Smith-Vaniz, 1995;Espino-Barr, Cruz, & García, 2003;Gutiérrez-Zavala & Cabrera-Mancilla, 2019). Las especies pertenecientes al género Caranx son consideradas como depredadores piscívoros, sin embargo, también pueden alimentarse de crustáceos y en menor medida de moluscos y otros invertebrados (Silvano, 2001;Sley, Jarboui, Ghorbel, & Bouain, 2008;Saucedo-Lozano et al 2012). En algunas especies se ha determinado que la dieta durante la etapa juvenil se basa en el consumo de crustáceos y durante el crecimiento aumenta el consumo de peces hasta la fase adulta (Sley, Jarboui, Ghorbel, & Bouain, 2009).…”