NOTES ON THE DIET OF THE LESSEPSIAN MIGRANT HERBIVOROUS FISHES, SIGANUS LURIDUS AND S. RIVULATUS, IN CYPRUS

ABSTRACT

Populations of the Lessepsian migrant herbivorous rabbitfishes, Siganus luridus and Siganus rivulatus, reported along Cyprus since 1929 and 1969, respectively, have declined in recent years, relative to a peak in the 1980s. Analysis of some gut contents indicates that the fish fed on different algae than previously studied populations from the Mediterranean coasts of Israel and Greece and the Gulf of Elat. A list of algae found in the guts is given. Particularly noteworthy is the great relative abundance of the toxic alga, Caulerpa racemosa, in guts of S. luridus. Some possible implications of these preliminary findings for the Cyprus populations are discussed.