Feeding habits of striped piggy, Pomadasys stridens (Forsskal, 1775) (Haemulidae) in northern part of the Persian Gulf

Abstract

Feeding habits of Pomadasys stridens were studied in northern part of the Persian Gulf. A total of 591 specimens were collected from the coastal water of Bushehr Province using trawl boats from May 2012 to April 2013 and diet composition, feeding intensity and season changes in diet composition were investigated. Vacuity Index was 81% during the study. RGL was 0.98±0.03 classifying this species as carnivorous to omnivorous fish. Pomadasys stridens had consumed 48 different food categories in 7 taxonomic classes. Crustacean, Mollusca, foraminifera, nematodes, Echinodermata, Annelida and miscellaneous were the main observed food items. There was no significant difference between males and females regarding diet composition in different months.