Food and feeding habit of a penaeid prawn Metapeneopsis stridulans (Alcock 1905)

Abstract

Metapeneopsis stridulans feeds on a variety of food items, viz. diatoms, foraminiferans polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans and detritus consisting of unidentifiable decaying matter along with sand and mud. The species does not show a preference for any particular food item. There is no significant difference in the food habits among the various size groups observed in the prawn. Monthwise feeding intensity for males and females shows males with empty stomach to be prevalent in most months.