Food and feeding of Ancistroteuthis linchtensteinii in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Ancistroteuthis linchtensteinii is not common squid species and its trophic ecology is poorly known, nevertheless its importance as prey for others squid, marine mammals and even crustaceans has been reported. We analyzed 21 organisms of 8.4-21.9 cm mantle length cached by commercial trawls in the Western Mediterranean Sea during January- July 2012. The proportion between females and males was 2.5:1, 20 immature squids and one maturing. Diet was composed by mesopelagic and micronektonic organisms mostly the myctophid Myctophum punctatum, cannibalism and other fish. Crustaceans and other mollusks made up another portion of the diet. Stomach content analysis elsewhere revealed that Pasiphaea sivado and Pasiphaea multidentata could also be major dietary items. According to these results we can infer that A. linchtensteinii fed on available preys on the column water and the opportunism is the main factor in its feeding behavior