Naslov
Diet composition of the eagle ray, Myliobatis aquila (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatidae), in the eastern Adriatic

Autori
Jardas, Ivan ; Šantić, Mate ; Pallaoro Armin

Izvornik
Cybium (0399-0974) 28 (2004), 4; 372-374

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
eagle ray – Myliobatis aquila - diet - Adriatic Sea – Mediterranean Sea
(eagle ray – Myliobatis aquila - diet - Adriatic Sea – Mediterranean Sea.)

Sažetak
The diet composition of the eagle ray, Myliobatis aquila, in the eastern Adriatic Sea was examined by analysis stomach contents of 165 specimens, 19.1 to 76.5 cm in DW, collected by bottom-trawl from 1998 to 2002. Of the total number of stomachs examined, 24 were empty (14.5%). The preys identified in stomach contents belong to six major groups: Nemertina, Mollusca, Polychaeta, Sipunculida, Decapoda crustaceans and Teleostei. Molluscs, including scaphopods, gastropods, bivalves and cephalopods, were the most abundant prey (%IRI=57.1) in the diet. Sipunculids were second in importance in the diet (%IRI=23.1) whereas the other prey groups, i.e. decapods, polychaets, nemertins and teleosts were of minor importance and probably representing accidental food. The most abundant prey species were a sipunculid, Aspidosiphon mulleri (%IRI=16.9) and two bivalves, Pteria hirundo and Cardium sp. (%IRI=5.6). Prey groups found in eagle rays stomach indicates that this species is a generalistic predator that feeds on various types of benthic organisms, with a wide range of sizes and morphologies.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

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