Beetles in the diet of six species of deep‐sea fish |
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| Authors: | M R L Jones RAB Leschen |
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| Institution: | 1. Earth and Oceanic Sciences Research Institute , Auckland University of Technology , Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand E-mail: majones@aut.ac.nz;2. New Zealand Arthropod Collection , Landcare Research , Private Bag 92170, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand E-mail: leschenr@landcare.cri.nz |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Four scarab beetles (Acrossidius tasmaniae) and two unidentified weevils were recovered from the guts of a single individual of six deep‐sea fishes trawled from depths of 326–418 m, c. 30–40 km off the Wairarapa coast, North Island, New Zealand. These constitute the first records of terrestrial arthropods in the diet of deep‐sea fishes from the New Zealand region. Possible reasons describing how these terrestrial beetles came to be eaten by these fishes are discussed. |
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| Keywords: | Acrossidius tasmaniae beetles deep‐sea diet scampi |
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