Observations on the Diet of Red Morwong, Cheilodactylus fuscus Castelnau (Pisces : Cheilodactylidae)

Abstract

Stomach contents of 104 C. fuscus (of 275-415 mm standard length) from rocky reef habitats in the Sydney region were analysed. This species was found to be entirely carnivorous, polychaetes, brachyurans, amphipods, gastropods and bivalves comprising the major food types and dominating the diet throughout the year. However, the relative proportions of these food types in the diet were found to vary considerably on a seasonal basis.