The food and feeding habits of Selaroides leptolepis (Cuvier and Valenciennes)

Abstract

With a view to study the food and .feeding habits of Selaroides leptdds, a common carangid in Indian waters, stomachs of 1830 specimens collected from the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar were analysed by the Points and Occurrence methods. Examination of the stomach contents of S. leptolepis at different stages indicated that Acartia, Oithona, Decapod and molluscan larvae were favourite items of food in the lower size groups and as the fish grows Lucifer, Acetes, Mysids and fishes (mostly juvenile Anchoviella) became more and more important in the diet.