Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

FEEDING HABIT OF BANANA SHRIMP PENAEUS MERGUIENSIS

S. Sampath Kumar and N. Kusuma

Abstract

The foregut content of Penaeus merguiensis collected from the mangrove lined backwater areas of Kali estuary, were analysed volumetrically. It was found that this species is an omnivore and the gut content included animal matter (66.6%) and plant matter (25.7%). The major item of diet during the study period was crustaceans and the results suggest that they prefer crustaceans. They exhibit selectivity to a certain extent depending on the availability of food items in the habitat. All size groups found in the estuarine area seems to feed on similar type of items and do not suggest any ontogenetic variation in the diet. There does not exist any differential feeding between the sexes.