Squid predation by slender sunfish Ranzania laevis (Molidae) |
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| Authors: | M Nyegaard N Loneragan M B Santos |
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| Affiliation: | 1. School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia;2. Instituto Espa?ol de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain |
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| Abstract: | In addition to crustaceans, remains from 17 individual squid were found in the stomach of a 58 cm slender sunfish Ranzania laevis from Australia, adding a new prey item to their little studied diet. Taken together with existing data from the literature, crustaceans appear to be a common prey item, with larger R. laevis (26–65 cm) also taking small fish and squid. Along with new documentation on breaching, the unexpected finding of squid in the stomach confirms that these fish are fast and agile predators. |
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| Keywords: | beak breaching crustacean diet Octopoteuthis Ommastrephidae |
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