Stomach content analysis of the leervis, Lichia amia (L.), from the Swartvlei system, southern Cape

Abstract

A total of 222 specimens (TL 17, 3 to 73, 4 cm) of the leervis, Lichia amia, were collected at three localities in the Swartvlei estuarine system over the period July 1978 to April 1980. The stomachs of 150 of these contained food. Those from fish collected in the lower reaches of the system contained mostIy sandshrimp and fish, those from the middle reaches predominantly fish, and those from the upper reaches exclusively fish. The most important prey species overall were the estuarine round�herring, Gilchristella aestuarius, and the sand�shrimp, Palaemon pacificus.