Feeding habits of red gurnard,Aspitrigla cuculus (L. 1758) (Scorpaeniformes,Triglidae), along the Catalan coast (northwestern Mediterranean)

Stomach contents of 193 specimens of the fish Aspitrigla cuculus (collected at quarterly intervals) are analyzed to determine diet, and variations in diet according to size and season. Crustaceans (% No = 93 %, % Weight = 63 %) and teleostean fish (% N = 6 %, % W = 30 %) constitute the basic food. Feeding habits change at c. 85 mm and again at c. 140 mm (size of sexual maturity) total length. The importance of nycthemeral migrators decreases with size, while the circalitoral benthos increase inversely. In adults, the seasonal variations show only substitutions between benthic prey types.