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Diet of the smooth-hound Mustelus mustelus (Chondrichthyes: Triakidae) in the eastern Adriatic Sea

The diet of the smooth-hound Mustelus mustelus in the eastern Adriatic Sea was investigated with respect to fish size and season. Stomach contents of 139 specimens, 67 to 137 cm in TL, collected by bottom-trawl from 2001 to 2003 were analyzed. Of the total number of stomachs examined, 24 were empty (17.2%). The prey items identified in stomachs belong to eight major groups: Cephalopoda, Polychaeta, Nemertina, Stomatopoda, Decapoda, Enteropneusta, Tunicata and Teleostei. Decapod crustaceans were the most abundant prey (%IRI=63.1%) especially for individuals up to 110 cm TL. Teleosts were second in importance (%IRI=31.2) whereas othe rprey groups were of minor importance and were probably incidentally ingetsed food. At the species level, the decapods Atelecyclus rotundatus (%IRI=6.7) and Munida rugosa (%IRI=4.3) followed by the teleost Sardina pilchardus (%IRI=2.7) were the most frequent prey. With m. mustelu sgrowth, the proportion of deacpods decreased whereas that of teleosts and cephalopods increased. Diet composition showed little seasonal variation ; decapods were teh most important prey taxon in all seasons, especially in summer. The results indicate that the smooth-hound feeds on a wide range of prey items and can be considered an opportunistic predator.

Triakidae ; Mustelus mustelus ; Adriatic Sea ; diet

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