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Diet and feeding habits of two endemic demersal bycatch elasmobranchs: Trygonorrhina fasciata & Dentiraja australis

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Abstract

This study describes diet and feeding habits of two common bycatch elasmobranchs in East Australia: The Eastern Fiddler Ray Trygonorrhina fasciata (Muller & Henle, 1841) and the Sydney Skate Dentiraja australis (Macleay, 1884). Using stomach content analysis, we describe diet composition, food preferences and trophic levels of these batoids. Crustaceans were major components in the diet of both species which included teleosts and cephalopods. There was no indication of sex-related distinction in the diet of either species. The estimated trophic level (TL) of the T. fasciata was TL = 3.36 and the D. australis was TL = 3.43.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Daniel Johnson, Matt Harrison and Dr. Vic Peddemors and the Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries Observers Program for the samples provided for this study, the Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences for the use of facilities, Mr. Mark Macinante for the assistance with dissections and to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for scholarship funding (Process BEX 13590-13-8). This research was conducted under animal ethics approval (ACEC ref: 16/02) to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. This is contribution number #253 to the Sydney Institute of Marine Science – SIMS.

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  1. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Edgeworth David Building (A11), Room 107, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Marcelo Reis & Will F. Figueira

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  1. Marcelo Reis
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  2. Will F. Figueira
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Correspondence to Marcelo Reis.

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Reis, M., Figueira, W.F. Diet and feeding habits of two endemic demersal bycatch elasmobranchs: Trygonorrhina fasciata & Dentiraja australis. Ichthyol Res 67, 320–329 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-019-00724-7

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