A preliminary investigation of the feeding ecology of catsharks (Scyliorhinidae) off the west coast of southern Africa

Abstract

The diets of six species of catsharks (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) caught between Walvis Bay and Cape Agulhas at depths between 50 and 1 016 m were analysed. The most common prey items were teleosts and crustaceans. Lanternfish (Myctophidae) were common in the diets of Apristurus microps, A. saldanha, Apristurus spp. and Holohalaelurus regani, whereas the Cape anchovy Engraulis capensis was preyed on extensively by Scyliorhinus capensis. The most common crustaceans in the diet were Parapagurus spp, Mursia cristimanus and Euphausia lucens. Cephalopods were uncommon prey items, except in A. microps, A. saldanha, Apristurus spp. and H. regani.