Food of the Canterbury mudfish, Neochanna burrowsius (Salmoniformes: Galaxiidae)

Food found in the stomachs of 367 Neochanna, burrowsius (Phillipps) ranging in length from 6 to 167 mm was examined. Fish were collected from nine habitats, mainly in South Canterbury. Small monthly samples (mean of n = 13) of adult fish were collected for 9 months from one site, and 3 samples of fry came from the same place. Samples of juveniles were collected monthly for 7 months from a second site, and miscellaneous samples of adults or juveniles were collected from 7 other places. The stomachs of two samples of aestivating fish were also examined. Observations on feeding in an artificial pond showed that fish were attracted by live food but were incapable of catching swift prey. Food was predominantly insect larvae and Crustacea, chiefly chironomids and ostracods. Seventy‐five per cent of aestivating fish were found to have food residues in their stomachs.