FOOD HABITS THE EPINEPHELUS ACANTHISTIUS AND OTHER SERRANIDAE FISHES CAUGHT AT THE NATIONAL NATURAL PARK GORGONA, COLOMBIAN PACIFIC OCEAN

Abstract

From June 1988 to July 1992, in non-continuos samples were caught 2681 fishes of the family Serranidae at the National Natural Park Gorgona; only 161 individuals showed some kind of stomach food content. From these, 95 belong to Epinephelus acanthistius, 26 to E. analogus, 6 to E. itajara, 5 to E. cifuentesi y 29 to Diplectrum eumelum. In general it was observed that these species predate mainly on crustaceans (Squilla panamensis, S. mantoidea, Portunus iridescens), followed by fishes (Cynoponticus coniceps) and by mollusks (Loliginidae), urochordates and some polychaetes. The present work gives up information about the food spectrum of some of the most important commercial species of the family Serranidae in the study area.