Feeding habits of the sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon longurio on the west coast of the Gulf of California, Mexico

Abstract

Abstract The sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon longurio) is among the top three shark species captured by artisanal fisheries of the Gulf of California. This study includes information regarding the feeding habits of this species using the stomach contents of 70 individuals ranged from 54 to 109 cm in total length (TL). Out of the 16 prey items identified, fish of the families Scombridae (Scomber japonicus; prey-specific relative importance index [%PSIRI] = 6.3) and Batrachoididae (%PSIRI = 5.5), the cephalopod Lolliguncula spp. (%PSIRI = 6.3), and the crustacean Pleuroncodes planipes (%PSIRI = 4.3) were the most important prey. Only female stomachs were obtained (N = 19) in the central area of the gulf, and the PSIRI indicated that the preferred prey were the cephalopod Lolliguncula spp. (%PSIRI = 10.5) and fish of the Sparidae family (Calamus brachysomus; %PSIRI = 5.8). The number of stomachs was not sufficient to analyse differences by sex. Regarding its trophic position, R. longurio was a tertiary consumer (TL K = 4.4). A TL K = 4.4 was calculated for the central area, and a TL K = 4.3 for the southern area. According to Levin's index (Bi), this shark is a specialist predator in the whole study area (Bi = 0.19), including the centre (Bi = 0.29). Conversely, it was considered a generalist predator in the southern area (Bi = 0.63). The high quantity of empty stomachs could relate to the time the sharks were caught in fishing a gear.