Feeding habits of the cutlassfish Trichiurus japonicus around Hiuchi-Nada, central Seto Inland Sea, Japan

Abstract

Diet components of the cutlassfish Trichiurus japonicus around Hiuchi-Nada in the central Seto Inland Sea, Japan were investigated by monthly samples during 2011-2013. The Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus, the western sandlance Ammodytes japonicus and the pasiphaeid shrimp Leptochela gracilis showed conspicuously high values in the index of relative importance percentage (%IRI). Engraulis japonicus and L. gracilis appeared in the diets of T. japonicus for most of the year. The %IRI of fish increased as T. japonicus became bigger, while that of crustacean decreased. Frequent feeding on A. japonicus occurred during spring, which seems to be a specific characteristic of T. japonicus around Hiuchi-Nada.