Resumen del producto

Understanding the feeding habits of the Mexican barracuda Sphyraena ensis is important to elucidate aspects of its trophic ecology (prey consumed, diet breadth, trophic level, and energy flows), which in general provide clues about the dynamics of marine communities. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to assess the dietary habits of Mexican barracuda S. ensis, as well as dietary variations by sex (males, females), size (small, medium, and large individuals), and season (rainy and dry). Monthly samples were obtained from February 2014 to January 2015 in the region of San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico. A total of 308 specimens were captured, ranging between 30.6 and 58.7 cm total length, and weighing between 405 and 836 g. Of the analyzed stomachs, 264 (86%) contained food and 44 (14%) were empty. The diet of the Mexican barracuda comprised 13 prey items from 11 families, 12 genera, and 9 species. According to the index of relative importance (%IRI), the most important prey were the fishes Sardinops spp. (40%), Hemiramphus saltator (40%), Opisthopterus dovii (11%), Anchoa spp. (4%), and Mugil cephalus (3%). We conclude that Mexican barracudacan be categorized as opportunistic ichthyophagous predators in coastal epipelagic zones. The trophic spectrum did not vary significantly by sex or size, but the consumption of preferred prey varied significantly by season. 

Palabras clave: Sphyraenidae; pelagic predator; ichthyophagous; Sardinops spp.; Hemiramphus saltator; %IRI

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