Food and feeding habits of Pseudarius jella (Day) and Macrones gulio (Hamilton Buchanan) in the estuarine region of the Nilwala River, Matara.

Abstract

The feeding habits of the two species of catfishes, Pseudariusjella and Macrones gulio considered in this study were found to be mainly carnivores and, at the same time, they indicate opportunistic feeding habit. Although the differences in the relative contribution of major food items in these two species were observed, they have fed similar items. However, to obtain more information about the food and feeding habits of the catfishes studied here, more intensive sampling should be carried out during different times of the year. The time permitted for the present study did not allow to obtain information sufficient to attain any conclusion regarding the feeding chronology and niche segregation of the two catfish species considered. These together with the studies on migration and reproductive behavior may give better idea on their food and feeding ecology. Although this study gives a general idea of the feeding habits of Pseudarius jella and Macrones gulio, more intensive investigations are necessary to obtain a better knowledge on their feeding behavior.