Diet of Crenicichla britskii (Perciformes: Cichlidae) in a stream of Rio Aguapeí basin, Upper Rio Paraná system, southeastern Brazil

Author(s)

Gibran, Fernando Zaniolo ; Ferreira, Katiane Mara ; Castro, Ricardo M. C. ^[3]

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Biota Neotropica; v. 1, n. 1/2 2001.
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology

Abstract

We qualitatively studied the gut contents of 20 specimens (36.1-71.3 mm standard length) of the pike cichlid Crenicichla britskii from a 100 m stretched second order stream running inside a small gallery forest in a large pasture area of Rio Aguapeí basin, State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. The diet, in terms of per cent composition, constituted primarily of aquatic insects (50%) (mostly immature forms), crustaceans (14.3%), unidentified organic material and filamentous green algae (both with 10.7%), followed by fishes and arachnids (both with 7.1%). Diet analysis indicates that C. britskii is a generalist insectivore with a relatively short digestive tube, which feeds on autochthonous items captured in a broad array of habitats such as in the water column or at the surface, buried in or over the bottom, or associated with macrophytes and submerged vegetation debris. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 98/05072-8 - Fish diversity of the headwaters and streams of the Upper Paraná River System in the State of São Paulo, Brazil
• Grantee: Ricardo Macedo Corrêa e Castro
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants