Feeding ecology and gut-derived fatty acid composition of the pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis (Ehrenberg, 1831) in the southeastern Arabian Sea

Nimija, P M and Laxmilatha, P and Chakraborty, Rekha D and Rosmy, A V and Vidhya, P V and Vidya, R (2026) Feeding ecology and gut-derived fatty acid composition of the pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis (Ehrenberg, 1831) in the southeastern Arabian Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 343. pp. 1-12. ISSN 1096-0015

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Abstract

Understanding the feeding ecology of commercially important cephalopods is essential for elucidating trophic interactions and supporting sustainable fisheries management. This study investigated the feeding ecology of the pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis, in the southeastern Arabian Sea using an integrated approach combining stomach content analysis, feeding indices, multivariate analyses, and gut-content fatty acid profiling. A total of 1071 specimens collected from January 2022 to December 2024 were examined to evaluate seasonal, sex-, size-, and maturity-related variation in diet composition and feeding activity. Fishes constituted the dominant prey category based on percentage Index of Relative Importance (%IRI = 58.42), followed by shrimps (20.97%) and crabs (19.40%). Feeding intensity varied significantly among seasons, with higher stomach fullness and gastro-somatic indices during the pre-monsoon period. Multivariate analysis of diet composition showed significant effects of year, season, and maturity stage, whereas sex and size group had no significant effects. Gut-content fatty acid profiles were dominated by saturated fatty acids, while higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids were observed during the monsoon season. Multivariate analysis of fatty-acid composition revealed significant effects of season, sex, and their interaction; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the limited replication within each season × sex combination. Overall, the study demonstrates seasonal and maturity-related variation in feeding and diet composition, while the major prey categories remained consistent throughout the study period. The findings provide insights into the recent dietary composition and feeding ecology of S. pharaonis in the southeastern Arabian Sea.

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