The diet of Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Sepia elegans (D'Orbigny, 1835) (Cephalopoda, Sepioidea) from the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain) |
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B.G. Castro, A. Guerra |
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The stomach contents of 1345 Sepia officinalis and 717 Sepia elegans caught in the Ria de Vigo have been examined. The feeding analysis of both species has been made employing an index of occurrence, as other indices gave similar results. The diet of both species is described and compared. Cuttlefish feed mostly on crustacea and fish. S. officinalis shows 40 different items of prey belonging to 4 groups (polychaeta, cephalopods, crustacea, bony fish) and S. elegans 18 different items of prey belonging to 3 groups (polychaeta, crustacea, bony fish). A significant change occurs in diet with growth in S. officinalis, but not in S. elegans, within the range studied. The variety of prey decreases with increase in size of S. officinalis, but not in S. elegans. Differences in feeding habits of male and female S. officinalis were not observed at any size, but were found in S. elegans. The feeding intensity of females increases with sexual maturity in S. officinalis but not in S. elegans. No seasonal changes in diet were found in absolute values and in order of importance of the prey clusters. S. officinalis fed on a wider variety of prey than S. elegans. The value and significance of some indices employed in feeding ecology is discussed. |
Keywords: Cephalopods, feeding, Sepia officinalis, Sepia elegans, Ria de Vigo. |
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Sci. Mar. 54(4) : 375-388 |
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