Feeding Habits of Yellow Goose Fish Lophius litulon and John Dory Zeus faber in the South Sea of Korea

Abstract

The feeding habits of yellow goosefish Lophius litulon and John Dory Zeus faber were studied by analyzing the stomach contents of specimens collected in the South Sea of Korea. In total, 132 hauls were taken during six experimental trawl survey (Tamgu 1) cruises conducted on a seasonal basis (March 2005-October 2007). The main prey items of the two species were similar. Fishes and crustaceans were the most important prey, with neither species showing ontogenetic changes in preferred species. Specifically, Pennahia argentata was the preferred prey item of L. litulon, whereas Trichiurus lepturus and Engraulis japonicus were preferred by Z. faber. Larger Z. faber (>24 cm) preferred bigger prey such as T. lepturus and Larimichthys polyactis, while smaller Z. faber preferred E. japonicus and Acropoma japonicum.