Feeding Habits of Whitespotted Dragonet Callionymus beniteguri in the Coastal Waters off Taean, Korea

Abstract

Specimens of Callionymus beniteguri (n=89) were collected from the waters off the coast of Taean, Korea, between April 2008 and January 2009, and their feeding behavior was observed. C. beniteguri (4.0-15.5 cm SL) was found to be a bottom-feeding carnivore that primarily preyed on gammarid amphipods, and secondarily consumed polychaetes but also ingested bivalves, shrimps, cumaceans, and sea urchins. Six additional minor prey groups also contributed to its diet, but the index of relative importance (IRI) for these groups was relatively low (<1.0). C. beniteguri exhibited size-related dietary changes. Small individuals (<10 cm SL) mainly consumed amphipods. As fish size increased, amphipods tended to decline in IRI, while the contributions of bivalves, sea urchins, and polychaetes became more important.

Molecular and morphological comparison of larvae and juveniles of five species of callionymids, with ontogenetic evidence on the monophyly of Repomucenus (Callionymidae)

“…In Korea, several studies on aspects of the Callionymidae have been reported, including those on taxonomy (Lee & Kim, 1993), feeding habitats (Choi et al ., 2016; Huh & Baeck, 2003), reproductive cycles and spawning ecology (Baeck & Huh, 2004), but there has been only one study on the early life development of B. kaianus (Kim et al ., 2020). Many studies from other countries have reported on the early life development of species including Repomucenus lunatus (Eda et al ., 1994a), Repomucenus curvicornis , Repomucenus valenciennei (Eda et al ., 1994b), Repomucenus huguenini (Gonzales et al ., 1996) and Paradiplogrammus enneactis (Eda et al ., 1997).…”