Food and feeding habits of alloteuthis media in the Western Mediterranean sea

Abstract:

The loliginid squid Alloteuthis media is not a commercial squid species in the Western Mediterranean Sea, and its trophic ecology is poorly known. Nevertheless, its importance as a prey resource for other squids, marine mammals and even crustaceans has been pointed out in the last decade. We analysed 124 organisms with a mantle length between 1.9 cm and 9.4 cm caught by commercial trawls in the Western Mediterranean Sea during the summer of 2013. Their diet consisted of mesopelagic and micronektonic organisms, mostly myctophid fish, and to a lesser extent crustaceans and molluscs. Based on our results, we can infer that A. media feeds on available prey suggesting active and opportunistic predatory behaviour. This agrees with information reported for other squid.

Año de publicación:

2015

Keywords:

• Trophic habits
• Mediterranean Sea
• Alloteuthis media

Fuente:

scopus