First report on the diet and reproductive biology of red-toothed triggerfish Odonus niger (Ruppell, 1836) from the south-eastern Arabian Sea

The feeding habits and reproductive biology of red-toothed triggerfish Odonus niger (Ruppell, 1836) was analysed from 449 specimens collected from the Karnataka coast of the south-eastern Arabian Sea. Of the total stomachs examined, only 54 (12%) were empty and 395 contained food remains. The diet c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2021-08, Vol.101 (5), p.827-837
Main Authors: Suyani, Nitin Kanji, Rajesh, Mridula, Rajesh, Kothanahally Mallegowda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Aquatic crustaceans
Biology
Body weight
Coral reefs
Crustaceans
Detritus
Diet
Eggs
Exploitation
Fecundity
Females
Fish
Fish eggs
Fishing
Food
Gonadosomatic index
Males
Marine fishes
Odonus niger
Omnivores
Ovaries
Sex ratio
Spawning
Stomach
Zooplankton
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The feeding habits and reproductive biology of red-toothed triggerfish Odonus niger (Ruppell, 1836) was analysed from 449 specimens collected from the Karnataka coast of the south-eastern Arabian Sea. Of the total stomachs examined, only 54 (12%) were empty and 395 contained food remains. The diet comprised crustacean remains (48.0%), zooplankton (21.4%), algae (16.5%), fish remains (6.1%) and cephalopod remains (5.3%) along with partially digested matter (2.3%) and detritus (0.4%). The species was found to be a generalist feeder and an omnivore. The overall sex ratio between males and females (1: 0.44) was significantly (P < 0.05) different. Histological examination of the ovaries indicated asynchronous ovarian development in females, with males maturing earlier than females. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) patterns of males and females, and the presence of ripe ovaries and spermatozoids suggested that April–May is the peak spawning period. The absolute and relative fecundity estimates ranged from 16,464–312,420 eggs and 251–2812 eggs g−1 respectively. Fecundity was positively correlated with total length and body weight. The biological information on diet composition and reproductive traits provided for the first time in this study can facilitate conservation, management and sustainable exploitation of this species in the study area.
ISSN:0025-3154
1469-7769
DOI:10.1017/S0025315421000771