Abstract
SUMMARY: Stomach contents of 282 false southern king crabs (Paralomis granulosa), between 10 to 90 mm CL from the Beagle Channel (Golondrina Bay and Roca Mora), Argentina, were examined by the frequency of occurrence method of analysis and by a food index. Roca Mora is an area where juveniles ( 60 mm CL) are common; in this last area sexual segregation was also observed. The principal food groups for crabs of Golondrina Bay were algae, molluscs, crustaceans, bryozoans and foraminiferans; for crabs from Roca Mora the natural diet consisted of three major food groups: hydrozoans, echinoderms and foraminiferans. The relative frequency of different prey groups varied in relation to the size, season and sex. There were no significant differences in the quantity of food consumed by sexes in both areas. Generally small crabs ( 50 mm CL). Juveniles consumed a greater amount of food during winter and spring. In summer (moulting period), juveniles had the highest vacuity index. Adults consumed minor amounts of food during autumn, before the spawning-moulting-mating period when the vacuity index was higher (spring).
Highlights
The false southern king crab, Paralomis granulosa (Jacquinot, 1847), commonly called “cento-llón”, is a commercial species in Chile and Argentina since the early 1970’s
Food habits have been analyzed for numerous crab species, including Chionoecetes bairdi, Paralithodes camtschatica (Tilesius, 1815), Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 and Lithodes santolla (Molina, 1782)
A study of the food habits of the crab is of considerable importance because food availability and utilization may play important roles in the distribution, migration and moulting patterns of the crabs
Summary
The false southern king crab, Paralomis granulosa (Jacquinot, 1847), commonly called “cento-llón”, is a commercial species in Chile and Argentina since the early 1970’s. For Argentina the largest catches were recorded in 1995 when they amounted to 320 metric tons. This species inhabits the Pacific Ocean from Paso Tenaún, Chile, to Cape Horn, Argentina, and the Atlantic Ocean from 56°S to the. Food habits have been analyzed for numerous crab species, including Chionoecetes bairdi (see Paul et al, 1979; Jewett and Feder, 1983), Paralithodes camtschatica (Tilesius, 1815) (see Mc Laughlin and Hebard, 1961; Takeuchi, 1968; Feder and Paul, 1980; Feder and Jewett, 1981; Jewett and Feder, 1982), Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (see Ryer, 1987; Ropes, 1988) and Lithodes santolla (Molina, 1782) (see Comoglio and Amin, 1996). A study of the food habits of the crab is of considerable importance because food availability and utilization may play important roles in the distribution, migration and moulting patterns of the crabs
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.
