DIETS OF TRAWLED PREDATORY FISH OF THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA, AUSTRALIA, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO PREDATION ON PRAWNS

The diets of 79 predatory fish species from 128 trawling stations in t he Gulf of Carpentaria are described. Twenty-three of the 40 most abun dant predatory species were major piscivores (more than 50% by dry wei ght of their diets consisted of teleosts). These fish ate mainly Pleur onectiformes, Leiognathidae and Anguilliformes. For 14 of the 17 minor piscivore species (less than 50% by dry weight of their diets consist ed of teleosts), members of the Crustacea (Brachyura, Penaeidae, Stoma topoda and other Crustacea) were the main dietary items. Members of th e Penaeidae were the second most important crustacean component in the combined diets after Brachyura, but they represented a relatively sma ll fraction of the diet of all 27 prawn-eating fish species. Most of t he penaeid prey consisted of small, non-commercial Metapenaeopsis spp. and Trachypenaeus spp. The diets of four species. Arius thalassinus, Carangoides malabaricus, Lutjanus malabaricus and Nemipterus furcosus- showed evidence of seasonal differences.