Food Habits and Selective Feeding of Anchovy Larvae (Engraulis japonica)

Abstract

This paper presents several findings on food selection and the relationship between the maximum size of food organisms and the diameter of the esophagus in anchovy larvae (Engraulis japonica) caught by boat seine in the Okitsu fishing ground, in the inner part of Suruga Bay, from May, 6 to September 26, 1976, as the result of comparisons between the larval gut contents and the plankton of the fishing ground.
1. The anchovy larvae feed almost entirely on the Copepoda present in the fishing ground, especially Paracalanus, showing very little feeding on phytoplankton or Noctiluca. This preference was attributed primarily to the difference in mobility of the plankton prey.
2. Comparison of the copepod prey by taxonomic group revealed no particular preference of anchovy larvae toward any group. However, selectivity toward size was seen, the larvae showing a positive selectivity toward prey of greater body length.
3. Measurement of the body width of gut contents of 17, 749 individuals showed an extremely close relationship between the maximum width and the diameter of the esophagus.