Food and feeding habits of Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch) from Malabar coast, Kerala

Food and feeding habits of Nemipterus japonicus from the Malabar region was studied by analysing 12164 specimens. The study showed that it is a demersal carnivore and the diet consisted of fishes, crustaceans, molluscs, polychaetes and miscellaneous food items. The trophic spectrum of N. japonicus is composed of 34 food items. All size groups preferred crustaceans. Penaeid shrimps, Acetes spp. and deep sea shrimps were the dominant crustacean components observed in the diet. Anchovies, scads, lizard fishes and Lactarius lactarius were the major teleost fishes that formed the diet of N. japonicus. The species showed preference for teleost fishes as they grew. The species initially feeds on a great variety of organisms, but as it grows slowly becomes more active predator, feeding mainly on large crustaceans and fishes. Crabs and squilla were seen mostly in juveniles and pre-adult fishes. Fishes dominated the stomach during January-March and crustaceans during all other months. Feeding intensity was poor during most of the months, variations were however observed in relation to different stages of maturity