Stomach contents of some shore-caught teleosts of Natal, South Mrica

Abstract

Stomach contents of shore-caught teleosts feeding on the Natal nearshore substratum were visually analysed for percentage composition. Commonly caught fish, namely Rhabdosargus sarta, R. holubi, Pomadasys commersonni, Trachinotus africanus and T. botla, were opportunistic omnivorous predators and fed largely on sand mussels and benthic crustacea. Less frequently caught predatory fish (15 species) fed mainly on benthic crustacea and other teleosts. The results are discussed briefly and will provide an input to a current ecosystem study on the environment in which these fish feed.