First results of a study of the feeding habits of Synodontis comoensis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae) in a West African river (Comoé River, Comoé National Park, Côte d'Ivoire)

The feeding habits of Synodontis comoensis (Siluriformes, Mochokidae) have been studied for the first time. Specimens caught in the Comoé River (Comoé National Park, Côte d'Ivoire) had fed on different types of food including insects (Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Hymenoptera, and Isoptera), molluscs...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aquatic ecology 2008-03, Vol.42 (1), p.35-42
Main Authors: Koné, Tidiani, Kouamélan, Essétchi P, Yao, Stanislas S, N'Douba, Valentin, Ollevier, Frans
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecology
Aquatic plants
Detritus
Diet
Dry season
Fish
Food
Fruits
Larvae
Mochokid fish
Mollusks
National parks
Rainy season
Rivers
seasonal variation
Seasons
Size effect
Vegetables
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Summary:The feeding habits of Synodontis comoensis (Siluriformes, Mochokidae) have been studied for the first time. Specimens caught in the Comoé River (Comoé National Park, Côte d'Ivoire) had fed on different types of food including insects (Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Hymenoptera, and Isoptera), molluscs (gastropods and bivalves), oligochaetes, and macrophytes. The food items most frequently found in the stomach contents were chironomid larvae, oligochaetes, vegetable detritus, fruit, and gastropods. Correlation studies based on the index of preponderance of food items revealed noticeable variation in S. comoensis diet composition with fish size and season. Preferred food items of young fish were oligochaetes in the rainy season and vegetable detritus in the dry season. Food items preferred by larger fish were fruit and gastropods in the rainy season and chironomid larvae in the dry season.
ISSN:1386-2588
1573-5125
DOI:10.1007/s10452-006-9074-y