FOOD-HABITS AND DIEL FEEDING PERIODICITY OF JUVENILE SICKLEFIN MULLET, LIZA-FALCIPINNIS (PISCES, MUGILIDAE), IN A CLOSED TROPICAL LAGOON

Results of analysis of the diet and diel feeding activity of young sic klefin mullet, Liza falcipinnis (CUVIER & VALENCIENNES 1836) penetrati ng the 'closed' Cape Coast Lagoon (Ghana) are presented in this paper. Specimens of the fish examined measured from 7.7 to 18.2 cm TL. Prima rily, the food consisted of diatoms, green algae, ostracods and partic ulate organic and inorganic matter. Measurements of the sizes of sand particles from the stomachs and the substratum indicate that the speci es browses on finer sediment particles with a preferred size range of 50-100 mu m, although it generally selects those in the range 10-650 m u m Relative gut length (intestine length to standard length ratio) ra nged from 2.2 to 5.1, but did not change significantly with size of fi sh. Evidence obtained from three 24-h feeding experiments indicated a strong diurnal feeding habit for juvenile sicklefin mullet. The result s are compared with those for mullet from other geographical areas.