Feeding strategy of the Deepwater Goby, Chasar bathybius, in the Southern Caspian Sea (Osteichthyes: Gobiidae)

Abstract

Eleven animal taxa were identified as prey of the Deepwater Goby, Chasar bathybius (Kessler, 1877), by analysing stomach contents: these were some species of Gobiidae, Clupeidae, Atherina boyeri, Carassius gibelio, Liza sp., Cardium sp., and Rhithropanopeus sp. With a frequency of 66%, Neogobius fluviatilis was the most prevalent food item, and was the dominant prey taxon in all seasons and age groups. C. bathybius exhibited a specialist feeding strategy on this fish and the other prey types. The dietary breadth is highest in spring according to the Shannon index.

Keywords:

• Chasar bathybius
• gobiid fishes
• dominant prey type
• feeding strategy
• Salmanshahr