Feeding of Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Bloch, 1794) and Oligosarcus robustus Menezes, 1969 in a lagoon under estuarine influence, Pelotas, RS

Abstract

The objective of the present paper was to study the diets of Hoplias aff. malabaricus and Oligosarcus robust in “Pequena Lagoon” and evaluate the importance of estuarine organisms in the feeding of freshwater fish. A total of twelve food categories were identified and it was established that the fish resource was the most frequent in the diet of both species. Euryhaline fish such as Mugil platanus mullets and Odontesthes argentinensis silversides were common items in the diets of these two species, which included not only freshwater fish but also euryhaline fish from the adjacent estuarine zone, integrating both resources in the food chain.

Keywords

• diet
• fish
• carnivore
• estuary
• Pequena Lagoon