Food habits of the spotted sand bass Paralabrax maculatofasciatus (Steindachner, 1868) from Laguna Ojo de Liebre, B.C.S., Mexico

Abstract

Feeding habits of spotted sand bass Paralabrax maculatofasciatus, in Laguna Ojo de Liebre, B.C.S., Mexico, were analyzed. According to relative importance index the amphipod Corophium spp., isopod Paracerceis spp., polychaetes Pherusa spp., crabs Callinectes bellicosus and fish were the most important items. Seasonal variations were observed during May-September, Corophium spp. and Paracerseis spp. were the most important prey, whereas C. bellicosus and fish were important during November. The smaller spotted sand bass fed mainly on amphipods, isopods and mollusks, whereas the largest bass fed on crabs and Octopus spp. No trophic overlap was found between size-intervals of spotted sand bass. We concluded that P. maculatofasciatus are carnivorous predators that feed mainly on epibenthic invertebrates.