| Abstract: | The diets of 33 fish species from the southern Portuguese slope, at depths between 498 and 740 m were studied through the examination of stomach contents. Species of scyliorhinids, squalids, rajids, chimaerids, anguilliforms, notacanthids, macrourids, gadids and merluccids, with pelagic, benthope-lagic and benthic modes of life were examined. Nezumia sclerorhynchus feeding habits were studied in detail. Its diet its dominated by amphipods. No differences of prey preferences were recorded corresponding to predator size classes. The studied predators can exploit a wide range of prey, but they feed mainly on benthopelagic and epibenthic material. Consequently it is difficult to establish distinct feeding guilds, so confirming a generalist type of feeding for most of the upper slope dwelling fishes. |
