Feeding and distribution of the bigeye flounder Hippoglossina macrops off Northern Chile

Abstract

Bathymetric distribution and stomach contents of the bigeye flounder captured during November 1995 were analysed. Bathymetric distributional pattern differed among age classes, with younger fish inhabiting shallower waters while older fish occupied all depths sampled. For each sex, the densities were greatest at shallower depths and decreased constantly with depth. Differences in feeding habits with fishing ground, depth and age classes were found. Feeding is characterized by consumption of juvenile squat lobsters Pleuroncodes monodon and Cervimunida johni of 3 mm mean cephalothorax length at 150–300 m depth, and primarily of shrimp Heterocarpus reedi below this range. Young flounders (≤3 years) mainly fed on small prey such as juvenile squat lobsters, whereas flounders >3 years old fed mainly on macrocrustaceans such as H. reedi and to a minor extent on P. monodon and C. johni. Feeding intensity increased with age for each sex, with older females showing a larger food intake rate that was consistent with their higher growth rate in comparison with males.