Feeding Habits of the Bogue, Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) (Teleostei: Sparidae) in Benghazi Coast, Eastern Libya

Abstract

The feeding habits of 500 specimens of Boops boops (family: Sparidae), inhabiting Benghazi Mediterranean coast, were studied monthly from November 2012 to October 2013. The annual diet composition, monthly variations in the diet composition, the variations of diet with length and the intensity of feeding were studied. Boops boops feed on a wide variety of prey types: Crustacean (49.0%), Porifera (22.7%), Coelenterate (10.2%), Seagrasses (9.2%), Mollusca (8.1%) and Protozoa (0.9%). The Crustacean, Porifera, Coelenterate, Seagrasses and Mollusca were the major food item all year round and it was found in all length groups. In the present study, Crustacean, Porifera, Seagrasses and Mollusca increased as the size increased while Coelenterate and Protozoa decreased as the fish size increased. The feeding intensity was quite high during the autumn and summer.