Food and feeding habits of the speckled shrimp Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius)

Abstract

The food and feeding habits of Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius) from Cochin region are given in detail in this paper. Differences in food preference for this specie had been noticed between marine and brackishwater environment While M. monoceros from illshore grounds preferred polychaetes as their main food item, in Cochin backwaters, they mainly fed on crustaceans. Diurnal variation in the feeding intensity was noticed, where, M. monoceros fed more in nights than the day hours. Females in different stages of maturity were found to feed more vigorously than the immature ones. Juveniles and adults in the inshore waters did not show any signifint differena in their food preferences. The present study shows that M.monoceros is carnivorus, mainly depending on animal food items, irrespective of size and sex in marine as well as estuarine conditions.