Food Habits of Spotted Sand Bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus, Serranidae) from Bahia De Los Angeles, Baja California

In this study, we compare feeding habits of spotted sand bass, Par- alabrax maculatofasciatus, between two sampling periods, fall 1992 and spring 1994, characterized by different local oceanographic and environmental condi- tions, at Bahia de Los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico. Fish, ophiuroids, and brachyuran crabs dominated sand bass diet in fall 1992, contrasted with mysids in 1994. Diet was more diverse in 1992 than in 1994, and higher in prey evenness and lower in index of specialization and prey dominance, indicating a few items had a large impact on the diet in 1994. Among size classes within each year sampled, the largest fish consumed the most mobile prey items. The spotted sand bass\u27 ability to utilize such a wide variety of prey appears to be the key to its success in varying habitats