有明海におけるトラフグとシマフグの幼期の生態

抄録

The early life histories of two puffers Takifugu rubripes and T. xanthopterus, were ecologically studied. The larvae of either or both species, not distinguishable from each other, were found in the middle or bottom layer in Ariake Sound and neighboring Chijiwa Bay in April and May. The juveniles of both species were noted in late May after becoming about 20mm in standard length at the mouths of rivers located at the head of Ariake Sound. T. rubripes stayed there until July or August, and T. xanthopterus for one month longer, under the condition of a large range of salinity. The diet of T. rubripes appeared to consist mainly of benthic animals such as crabs, zoeae, gammarids, fish lices, mysis and snails, whereas for T. xanthopterus, pelagic organisms. Many young puffers caught with commercial fishing nets are abandoned as trash fish and some efforts to conserve them should be made.