Distribution and feeding habits of a sole Heteromycteris japonicus larvae

Abstract

This paper describes the vertical and horizontal distributions, and feeding habits of a sole Heteromycteris japonicus (Temminck et Schlegel) larvae, collected in the western Wakasa Bay, Japan Sea, from June to September 1981. The larvae H. japonicus distributed mainly in the waters between 25 m and 50 m depth. Small size larvae of less than 3.0 mm BL commonly appeared at Sts. A, B and C, and large size larvae of more than 4.0 mm BL abundantly at St. A. It is suggested that the larvae shift the habitual area from “offshore-coastal area” to “coastal area” as growth of the larvae proceeded. The larvae of less than 4.0 mm BL fed mostly on Microsetella norvegica and copepod nauplii. Most of the same size larvae caught at St. A ate M. norvegica, but at St. C. larvae fed on M. norvegica and copepod nauplii. Percentage of larvae carrying food in their alimentary canal was high in those collected at St. A and low at St. C. The larvae of more than 5.0 mm BL consumed mainly Penilia avirostris, Podon sp. and M. norvegica. According to these findings on feeding habits of the larvae of H. japonicus it is estimated that the offshore area is unsatisfactory for survival of the larvae, compared with the coastal area. © 1983, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.