Diet of the Worm Lizard,Diplometopon zarudnyi (Nikolsky, 1907), in Riyadh province,Saudi Arabia (Reptilia: Trogonophidae)

We analysed the diet composition of 133 specimens of the Worm Lizard, Diplometopon zarudnyi, in Riyadh province, Saudi Arabia. Analysis of stomach contents revealed that 90 specimens (66.6%) had prey items in their gut. The stomach content consisted mainly of small invertebrate prey (beetles), mainly larvae of Dermestes sp., but also imagines of Dermestes maculatus and Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. Dermestes sp. constitutes over 99% of the total food items, showing a high selectivity in food intake. The high number of beetles in the stomach contents indicates that this lizard forages very frequently. Specimens collected during winter had empty stomachs. The high proportion of fossorial prey items and the occasional records of other stomach contents show that D. zarudnyi only occasionally forages on the surface.     

Diet composition of the Thornback Ray,Raja clavata Linnaeus, 1758 (Elasmobranchii: Rajidae) in the Turkish Aegean Sea

The diet of Raja clavata (Thornback Ray) was studied in 2008–2009 in S??ac?k Bay in the eastern Mediterranean, based on 187 stomach contents obtained by commercial trawl operations. 40 different prey species were found. Mysidacea, Parapenaeus longirostris and Plesionika sp. were the most abundant prey items. The results indicate that the main prey varies considerably depending on the ecological characteristics of the habitat.     

Feeding habits of the bluemouth, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809) (Pisces: Sebastidae) in the Portuguese coast

In order to investigate the feeding habits of Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus along the continental Portuguese coast, a total of 619 individuals were sampled of which 60% contained food in their stomach and 35% had more than one prey item. Among the 81 prey items that were identified in the stomachs, benthic and benthopelagic prey prevail on this species diet. Acantephyra sp, Pasiphaea sp, mysidacea, and teleostei n.i. were the prey with the higher percent index of relative importance (%IRI) value. Three length groups (5?C20?cm, 21?C27?cm, and 28?C48?cm) were defined through cluster analysis of the mean abundance of prey items. A permutational MANOVA detected significant differences in the diet and stomach fullness index for TLG, season, and maturation stage. Smaller fishes had a generalized diet, feeding mainly on mysidacea changing their diet above 20?cm TL, where a major consumption of natantia was found. The larger individuals, >28?cm TL, present a less generalized diet with pisces as dominant prey group. Seasonally, natantia and pisces were the principal prey groups during spring and winter, respectively, while mysidacea and other crustaceans were predominant during the rest of the year. Mysidacea were also the main prey group for immature individuals while natantia and pisces were the principal prey groups to the other maturity stages. The results of this study indicate that H. d. dactylopterus has a diverse diet focused on small crustaceans such as misyds and as specimens grow shrimps and fishes become more consumed, with larger specimens having a more specialized diet. The different nutritional needs during spawning season also seemed to influence the feeding habits of H. d. dactylopterus.     

Diet and foraging opportunism of the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) in the Abrolhos Bank,Brazil

Diet analysis allows exploring how coastal dolphins interact with the environment and their role in the marine food webs. We studied the diet and feeding ecology of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, through analysis of stomach content from 42 animals stranded on the eastern coast of Brazil. A total of 1,336 semidigested prey items (fish, otoliths, cephalopod beaks, and crustaceans) were identified. Teleost fish comprised the most frequent food item (92% of the total), followed by cephalopods, and crustaceans. Prey belonged to 34 taxa and richness in individual stomachs varied from 1 to 15 prey taxa. Prey were generally small, but showed a significant trend to increase in size with dolphin length. The main prey of Guiana dolphins were demersal, estuarine, and sound-making fish such as catfish and sciaenids. No sex-related differences in diet were found. Diet composition varied seasonally and occurrence of prey items was coherent with breeding or high abundance periods of some fish species and squids. Our study shows the importance of demersal prey from estuarine and soft-sediment habitats to Guiana dolphin in the Abrolhos Bank and reveals that feeding habits are generalist and opportunistic, with diet reflecting the seasonal abundance and availability of prey.     

Feeding habits of Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) in southern Brazil

The present study was carried out from 2001 to 2005, with the objective of analyzing the diet of Leopardus geoffroyi in extreme southern Brazil, through analyses of stomach contents and scats. The importance of each prey type found in the scats (n=66) was determined from the frequency of occurrence and percentage of occurrence. In the stomachs (n=9), the importance of each prey was determined using Pianka's index of relative importance (IRI). The food spectrum of L. geoffroyi included mammals, birds, serpents, amphibians and insects. Mammals were the most abundant items, present in 95.5% of the scats and representing 74.4% of the total prey, reaching an IRI of 13296.3 in the stomachs. The principal prey types found in the stomachs and scats were small rodents (Cavia spp., Oligoryzomys spp., Necromys spp. and Holochilus brasiliensis) and large-sized rodents (Myocastor coypus), of terrestrial, arboreal or semi-aquatic habit. Probably, the high percentage of these prey items in the diet is related to their availability and abundance. The index of niche breadth was low in both the stomach and scat analyses (respectively, B_sta=0.18 and 0.17), demonstrating the high degree of specialization of these cats.     

Food habits of the Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis) in Kutch, Gujarat, India

We characterized the diet of the Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis) during the breeding season in a semi-desert region of Western India. Diet was estimated using scat analysis. We used Index of Relative Importance (IRI) to determine the contribution of prey items in the diet of the Indian fox.Indian foxes were observed to feed on a wide variety of prey items. Arthropods were the most frequently occurring prey in their diet. IRI scores were highest for the group Coleoptera and Orthoptera followed by rodents, termites, Ziziphus fruits and spiny tailed lizards (Uromastyx hardwickii). IRI scores for rodents were higher for pups, differing significantly from proportions present in adult diet, thus indicating that they are crucial food items for the young ones. Prey proportions in the fox diet differed between the two habitats in the study area (grassland and scrubland).Our data suggest that the Indian fox is essentially an omnivore showing similar diet (in terms of high incidence of arthropods) to foxes inhabiting arid and semi-arid regions. The opportunistic and generalist strategy has probably helped the species to survive in varied habitats across the Indian subcontinent.     

Feeding ecology of a bagrid catfish,Mystus tengara (Hamilton, 1822) in the Tanore wetland of Rajshahi,Northwestern Bangladesh

The feeding ecology of Mystus tengara (Hamilton, 1822) was studied in the Tanore wetland of Rajshahi, northwestern Bangladesh from January 2011 to December 2011. In fish purchased from the local market, a total of 14 713 food items were identified in the stomach contents of 3191 M. tengara specimens, an omnivorous catfish with a diversified feeding strategy including cladocerans, copepods, rotifers, gastropods, green algae, diatoms, insects, ‘small fish remains, fish fry and eggs’ and ‘other’ food items. Insects were the most dominant group of prey throughout the year. Seasonal changes in diet composition were due to the availability of prey items and fish size. Ontogenetic changes were noted between the juveniles and adults. The gut contents of M. tengara showed that the food items were from different layers of the water bodies.     

Feeding habits and predator‐prey size relationships of mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky) in a shallow lake,central China

The diet and predator‐prey size relationships of mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky) in Lake Xiaosihai along the middle reach of the Yangtze River were studied through stomach content analysis. A total of 401 specimens (91–539 mm total length) were collected in 2007. The diet was dominated by topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus, redfin culter Cultrichthys erythropterus, and crucian carp Carassius auratus, with significant seasonal and ontogenetic differences. Ontogenetic variation in diet was apparent that larger prey items such as crucian carp and redfin culter became more common, while smaller prey such as topmouth gudgeon, bitterlings and shrimps gradually declined in the larger fish. Mandarin fish total length (TL) was strongly related to mouth gape width (GW) and gape height (GH). Mandarin fish TL and prey fish TL as well as mandarin fish GW and prey fish body depth (BD) were positively and linearly related for sharpbelly, redfin culter and crucian carp. Strong size selectivity for topmouth gudgeon, sharpbelly and redfin culter as prey indicated that the piscivorous mandarin fish can have potential impact on the population size structure of the three prey fish.     

Diet of the Long-eared Owl,Asio otus,in Central Anatolia (Aves: Strigidae)

In a one-year study on the diet of the Long-eared Owl, Asio otus, in the area of Karap?nar in Central Anatolia, 5324 prey items were recovered from 3314 pellets collected at monthly intervals. At least 7 species of mammals belonging to Insectivora (Crocidura suaveolens) and Rodentia (Allactaga williamsi, Cricetulus migratorius, Meriones tristrami, Mescocricetus brandti, Microtus guentheri, M. sp., Mus macedonicus) were identified. Rodentia were dominant and contributed 93.8% of the number of prey items of the Long-eared Owl. Microtus guentheri accounted for 83.9% of the rodent remains. The diet pattern was more diverse in summer, when some 24% of the diet consisted of non-mammal prey items (birds, insects).     

Identification of gut contents and microscopical observations of the gut epithelium of the macrophagous ascidian Cibacapsa gulosa Monniot and Monniot 1983 (Phlebobranchia, Octacnemidae)

Octacnemids represent a different pathway in the evolution of the typical filter-feeding ascidians. We examine and identify the prey items in the gut contents and describe the cell types that constitute the inner wall of different sections of the gut of the macrophagous octacnemid Cibacapsa gulosa collected in the South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica. A great variety of prey items were found: polychaetes, copepods, halacarids, amphipods, isopods and ophiuroids. The internal wall of the gut is lined with a monostratified, prismatic epithelium. Different cell types occur in the inner wall in different sections. The presence of zymogenic cells throughout the internal gut epithelium, as well as the presence of concretion cells in the stomach of C. gulosa, also present in the macrophagous tunicate group Sorberacea (= Hexacrobylidae), can be considered as an adaptation to the macrophagous diet.     

Trophic and Spatial Niches of two Large-sized Species of Leptodactylus (Anura) in Southeastern Brazil

Leptodactylus ocellatus (LO) and L. labyrinthicus (LL) are known to prey on other frogs. Here we compare their food habits based on the analysis of stomach contents and their spatial distribution when in sympatry. LO was found most frequently near stream banks, and LL on the margins of lakes and ponds. LO was found within 10 m of permanent water bodies; LL frequently used ponds far from lakes and rivers. Coleoptera, Formicidae, and Isoptera comprised 52% of the prey types identified in the LO sample, whereas Coleoptera and insect larvae represented 58% of the prey items of LL. Frogs were not frequent in the diet of either species but, in volume, represented the second most important category for LO and the first for LL. LO showed a larger trophic niche breadth than LL. The trophic niche overlap between the two species was 68.3% for percentage of prey items. The present work confirms the relative importance of frogs in the diet of both species. The greater capacity of LL in moving far away from permanent water bodies may generate better opportunities for prey selection and a narrower trophic niche breadth. The large range of prey used by these two species indicates they are generalist/opportunistic feeders.     

Feeding ecology of the estuarine dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) on the coast of Rio Grande do Norte,Brazil

We analyzed the stomach contents of 40 estuarine dolphins, Sotalia guianensis (van Benédén 1864), beached on the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, between February 2000 and February 2007. A total of 223 prey items were identified, including 18 species of teleosts and 5 species of cephalopods. The index of relative importance (IRI) showed that Larimus breviceps, Haemulon plumieri, Lutjanus synagris, Trichiurus lepturus, Mugil curema, and Diapterus rhombeus were the six most important species. The IRI showed that L. breviceps was the main prey for both adults and the young. H. plumieri was the most important for the males and T. lepturus for the females. Seven species of teleosts and two of cephalopods were recorded in the diet of estuarine dolphins for the first time in the country. Our results suggest that the estuarine dolphin can be a feeding specialist and that foraging activity occurs mainly in estuarine areas, where the animals can use passive listening to detect prey.     

The post-moult diet of Emperor Penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) in the eastern Weddell Sea,Antarctica

The diet of emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri was studied during late austral summer at Drescher Inlet, eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Antarctic krill Euphausia superba was a major component of the food, accounting for 75% of all prey items. Emperor penguins appear to feed on krill during shallow dives under the fast sea ice. Fish, mainly nototheniids, accounted for less than 20% by number of all prey. An evaluation of the main prey types in terms of mass indicated, however, that fish represented up to 75% approximately of prey mass. Feeding experiments were performed on captive penguins and showed that squid beaks can accumulate for up to 3 weeks within the stomach without any clear signs of erosion. The lack of cephalopod soft parts in the samples makes it likely that all squid beaks were derived from animals captured some time previously. Squid seems to be a very minor dietary component of emperor penguins at the Drescher Inlet.     

Characterization of feeding habits,prey diversity and diet overlap of two sympatric species: Bronze catfish,Netuma bilineata (Valenciennes, 1840) and blacktip sea catfish,Plicofollis dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1840) in the northern Arabian Sea

This study describes the diet composition, diet overlap and prey diversity in two economically and ecologically important marine catfish species: the bronze catfish (Netuma bilineata) and the blacktip sea catfish (Plicofollis dussumieri) collected between January and December 2015 from the northern Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan. Stomach data of 342 bronze catfish and 283 blacktip sea catfish were examined. Diet composition and feeding strategy of each species by identification of stomach contents were weighed and enumerated. Both species primarily consumed teleosts, Brachyura and small amounts of a wide variety of prey items; however, specialization was a more common trait for the bronze catfish than for the black tip sea catfish. The Morisita‐Horn index showed considerable diet overlap in percentage of mean weights (0.847) than in numbers (0.612) between co‐prey pairs of both species. The highest Bray‐Curtis similarity between the southwest monsoon (SWM) and south inter monsoon (SIM) was observed in bronze catfish and lowest between autumn inter monsoon (AIM) seasons in both species. While Bray‐Curtis dissimilarity was observed, both species share diet niches and diet overlap. The present study evaluation of the feeding strategy and potential competition between two sympatric species of marine catfishes can provide the framework for their conservation and management in the region.     

Diet of the house mouse (Mus musculus) on Guillou Island, Kerguelen archipelago, Subantarctic

The diet of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus), introduced to the Kerguelen archipelago in the 1800s, was studied at monthly intervals from August 1997 to July 1998 in the closed communities of Acaena magellanica, the main habitat of mice on Guillou Island. The analysis of 291 stomach contents showed that this opportunistic rodent included a variety of items in its diet: earthworms (Dendrodrilus rubidus tenuis, Microscolex kerguelensis), caterpillars of a flightless moth (Pringleophaga kerguelensis), weevil adults and larvae (Ectemnorrhinus spp.), seeds of Acaena magellanica, and floral parts of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). The animal prey were dominant in its diet all year round, except in summer. Based on the presence of chaetae in the stomach contents, our results show that earthworms are an important prey for the house mouse at Kerguelen. The consequences of these food habits for the invertebrate communities of the subantarctic islands are discussed.     

Stomach contents of mass-stranded short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) from North Carolina

We examined the stomach contents of 27 short‐finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) that mass stranded on the North Carolina coast on 15 January 2005. Eleven whales had prey parts in their forestomachs. We used frequency of occurrence and numerical abundance to assess the relative importance of prey. Brachioteuthis riisei (numerical abundance 28%), an oceanic species, was the most important cephalopod prey, but Taonius pavo (12%) and Histioteuthis reversa (9%) also represented a substantial part of the diet. A large number of otoliths belonging to the fish Scopelogadus beanii were present (25%). These results differ from reports of the stomach contents of short‐finned pilot whales from the Pacific coast in which neritic species dominate the diet. Our findings also suggest that there is a considerable difference between the diet of short‐ and long‐finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in the western North Atlantic. The latter feed predominantly on the long‐finned squid (Loligo pealei) whereas the former feed on deep‐water species. Our results indicate the whales fed primarily off the continental shelf prior to stranding.     

Stomach content analysis of juvenile, scalloped hammerhead shark Sphyrna lewini captured off the coast of Mazatlán, Mexico

We quantified the diet of juvenile, scalloped hammerhead shark Sphyrna lewini in the area off Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, to understand their feeding ecology this shark. The prey species of Sphyrna lewini were identified and quantified from stomach content analysis. In addition, we determined the variations between genders. During two fishing seasons (2000–2001 and 2001–2002), we analyzed 232 stomachs, of which 85% contained food. The trophic spectrum was composed of three species of cephalopods, six of crustaceans and 19 species of fish from mainly pelagic and benthic habitats. According to the Index of Relative Importance (%IRI), the cephalopod Loliolopsis diomedeae with IRI = 18%, fish of the family Carangidae IRI = 25% and family Synodontidae IRI = 19% constituted the main prey in general. The trophic niche width was <0.4, which indicated that S. lewini juveniles in this area feed on a wide range of prey items, though they showed a preference for a few prey items.     

Food habits of an endangered Japanese frog, Rana porosa brevipoda

We examined the diet of an endangered frog, Rana porosa brevipoda inhabiting rice fields of western Japan, by forced regurgitation of stomach contents. The frog diet consisted of a wide variety of arthropods, and ants, beetles, dipterans, bugs, orthopterans, and spiders, which were especially prominent. These prey taxa were also collected in large numbers by sweep-net samplings made in the frog habitat, and relative abundances of prey taxa in frog diet and those in sweep samples were found to be significantly correlated. Aquatic forms did not contribute much to the frog diet, but were found to be taken more frequently and in larger numbers in irrigated fields than in drained fields. These findings suggest that prey availability around frog habitat is very important to regulate the food items of R. p. brevipoda. On the other hand, terrestrial components of frog habitats are indicated to be important because the frog highly depended on terrestrial invertebrates. From these results, we consider it imperative to preserve terrestrial components linked with aquatic environments to conserve biodiversity in rice field ecosystems.     

The stomach content of a Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus): finding of Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) remains

The stomach contents of an adult Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) found stranded on the Turkish eastern Mediterranean coast near Antalya in May 2013 were analysed. In total, 69 individual food items were counted and nine taxa were identified to species or family level. Of the identified taxa, Sparidae was the most highly represented family of prey fish, and one cephalopod species, Octopus vulgaris, was found. Ariosoma balearicum and Argyrosomus regius were encountered for the first time in the diet of a Monk Seal in the Mediterranean. Several body parts (three heads, six forelimbs, neck bones and fractured upper forelimb bones) of Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) were also identified, which is the first record of this species in the Monk Seal’s diet.     

Feeding habits of the king soldier bream,Argyrops spinifer (Forsskål, 1775) (Perciformes: Sparidae), in the northern Persian Gulf

The feeding habits of the king soldier bream Argyrops spinifer (Forsskål, 1775), were examined in the northern part of the Persian Gulf (coastal waters of Bushehr, Iran). The stomach contents of 622 specimens, 13.5–64.2 cm in total length, collected by a trawl boat from June 2010 to May 2011, were analysed to assess the influence of size, season and sex on their diet composition. Amongst the examined stomachs, 57 were empty (vacuity index = 9.2%), which varied significantly (P < 0.05) throughout the year. According to the results, this species is a generalist carnivorous feeder with a diet consisting of 52 different prey items belonging to nine main categories. Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Malacostraca, Crustacea and Teleostei were the most important prey items. Fish size and gender showed no significant effects on diet composition. Moreover, in the main food catagories no seasonal variations were detected.