A Seasonal study on food and feeding pattern of Cynoglossus macrostomus in Vembanad Lake, Kerala

Abstract

Gut content analysis of Cynoglossus macrostomus offered important insights into its dietary preferences and seasonal feeding behaviour. Using Point’s method, the study identified crustaceans, detritus, algae, and miscellaneous items as consistently “very common” or “common” food components across all seasons. Algae from the family Oedogoniaceae were particularly dominant in the diet, reflecting their abundance in the study area. The findings highlight that food associations in fishes are primarily ecological, with seasonal variations in gut contents closely reflecting the availability of resources in the habitat.