Acta Adriatica, Vol. 62 No. 2, 2021.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.32582/aa.62.2.7
Shedding light on the diet of the Lessepsian yellowspotted puffer Torquigener flavimaculosus Hardy and Randall, 1983 in the Eastern Mediterranean
Niki Chartosia
orcid.org/0000-0002-3825-4722
; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, 1 Panepistimiou Str., 2109 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
Nikolas Michalidis
; Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, 101 Vithleem Str., 1416 Strovolos, Nicosia, Cyprus
Andria Constantinou
; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, 1 Panepistimiou Str., 2109 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
Paraskevi K. Karachle
; Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 46.7 km Athens Sounio ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos Attiki, Greece
Abstract
The stomach contents of 104 individuals of Torquigener flavimaculosus from Cyprus were examined. The analysis revealed that it is an omnivorous species with a preference to animal prey, especially invertebrates with limited mobility (crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms). The study of the length-weight relationship indicated a negative allometric growth for both sexes. It seems that its preference to consume invertebrates, its high toxicity due to high concentrations of tetrodotoxin in its tissues and some other biological characteristic reinforce it characterization as invasive and monitoring actions should be designed for such species.
Keywords
Lessepsian pufferfish; diet; Tetraodontidae; Cyprus
Hrčak ID:
271944
URI
Publication date:
22.12.2021.
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