Estudo do conteúdo estomacal do Peixe coelho sapateiro pé de espinha (Siganus sutor Valenciennes, 1835) (Osteichthyes: Siganidae) capturado na Ilha de Inhaca, Maputo, Sul de Moçambique

Abstract

The study was carried out on Inhaca Island, located in Maputo Bay, and focused on the feeding habits and trophic ecology of the rabbitfish Siganus sutor (Valenciennes, 1835), which belongs to the Siganidae family. The samples were collected in February 2023 on Inhaca Island, and 30 individuals were analyzed, which were separated by size and weight. Of the 30 stomachs, 13.3% were empty, 33.3% were partially empty, 23.3% were partially full, and 30% were completely full. Six major groups of stomach contents were identified: seagrass, microalgae, fish, debris, and hydrozoa, including sand particles. Seagrass was the most frequently occurring species at 100% and was classified as the main item according to the analysis of occurrence importance. Eleven food preys were identified, namely Cymodocea serrulata (Brown, 1810), Cymodocea rotundata Ascherson and Schweinfurth, 1870, Thalassia hemprichii (Ehrenberg) Ascherson, 1871, Syringodium isoetifolium (Ascherson) Dandy, 1939, Halophila ovalis (Brown) Hooker, 1858, dinoflagellates, filamentous algae, diatoms, detritus, fish (scales), hydrozoans and sand particles. The Jaccard similarity index demonstrated a strong similarity in diet between size classes, evidencing that the rabbitfish consumes the same food in both growth stages (juveniles and adults). The present study demonstrated that S. sutor has a herbivorous feeding habit of the second trophic level, being a primary consumer.(TRADUÇAO NOSSA)