Season, Sex and Size related Diet of Grass Goby, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Pallas, 1814) in the Eastern Adriatic Sea

Abstract

Feeding habits of Grass goby, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Pallas, 1814) related to season, sex and size were examined during one year. Stomach contents of 302 specimens were examined, of which 91 stomachs were empty. The sampled population consisted of 136 females (45.03%) ranging from 6.8 to 19.3 cm (13.30 ± 2.24), 156 males (51.65%) ranging from 6.1 to 20.2 cm (14.14 ± 2.91) and 10 unspecified (3.31%) individuals of a length of 5.6 to 16.0 cm (10.07 ± 2.91). Grass goby is mainly carnivorous. The dietary preferences among sexes and sizes did not differ statistically. Results indicate that Grass goby is an opportunistic species that feeds on wide spectrum on prey. Decapods were the most important prey (IRI =3208.49), followed by Osteichthyes (IRI=490.03).