Abstract
Do Ospreys prey on coral reef fish? In short, yes. We report for the first time in scientific literature with photographic proof that Ospreys eat coral reef fish and suggest, based on regular sightings of Osprey hunting over the Watamu Marine National Park lagoon and reef, that coral reef fish form a regular part of their diet while in Kenya.
Highlights
Numerous fish species have been recorded as Osprey prey items, with 90 fish species recorded in their diet in the mangroves of Brazil (Robson and Olmos 2002) and 80 fish species in North America (Bierregaard et al 2020)
There has not been any mention of coral reef fish in the diet of Osprey in the literature, a photo of an Osprey holding a Caribbean Blue Tang Acanthurus coeruleus in Mexico was published in local newspapers (Oversteegen 2019)
The weight and size of the batfish (20–60 cm; Bouhlel, 1988) falls within the range of a typical osprey prey item, which usually represents about 10-30% of its body mass
Summary
Numerous fish species have been recorded as Osprey prey items, with 90 fish species recorded in their diet in the mangroves of Brazil (Robson and Olmos 2002) and 80 fish species in North America (Bierregaard et al 2020). They show a strong preference for certain species (Bierregaard et al 2020).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
