Food and feeding habits of black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus L. 1758) (Pisces, Scorpaenidae) along the Adriatic coast

Abstract

       Stomach contents of 298 black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) from 13 stations of the eastern Adriatic, sampled in May (spring), June and July (summer), September (autumn), December and March (winter) 1987-1991 were examined. The relative importance of different components of the diet was assessed using three feeding indices (IRI, MFI, Q) which combine in different ways the percentage frequency of occurrence (%F), percentage number (%N) and percentage weight (%W) of prey categories. Decapoda Brachyura were dominant food component independent of the season, followed by fishes and crustaceans Decapoda, Anomura and Natantia. Taking individual species into account, Pilumnus hirtellus was the most dominant prey, both by number and weight, followed by Ilia nucleus, Lissa chiragra and Xantho species. Of the fishes, the species of Gobiidae family were the most numerous, of Anomura the Galathea species and of Natantia the species of Alpheiidae and Palaemonidae families. The food changes were recorded with fish length. Seasonal quantitative dietary changes were also recorded. The lowest feeding activity was recorded in summer during the spawning season of this species in the Adriatic Sea.