Exploring dietary choice a focus on polychaete consumption of some selected benthic fishes from Karwar coast

Abstract

Stomach contents and polychaete prey were studied in the diet’s of three commercially important benthic fish species (Cynoglossuss macrostomus, Pseudorhombus arsius, bentho-pelagic fish Otolithes ruber) in the west coast of Karwar were examined. A total of 4 prey taxa belonging to 6 families of polychaetes were found. The four species were analysed in detail. Capitella sp., Neris sp., Glycera alba, Mediomastus sp., Maldanidae sp., The frequent species found in the stomach were Capitella sp., Neries sp., Glycera alba. The predator had a clear preference for errant and carnivorous polychaete species probably due to more active behaviour of these prey, and also as of trawl fishing.