FOOD-HABITS OF THE 2-LINE EELPOUT (BOTHROCARA-BRUNNEUM, ZOARCIDAE) AT2 DEEP-SEA SITES IN THE EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC

Two-line eelpouts were collected from two deep-sea sites in the easter n North Pacific in order to study food habits. The diet of this specie s is low in diversity, consisting primarily of shrimp like crustaceans and secondarily of small zoarcid fishes. Although significant differe nces in diet exist between the two study sites, it appears that two-li ne eelpouts have a narrow dietary breadth. Previous and concurrent sur veys of the region indicate that there is a wide range of potential pr ey available to two-line eelpouts; however, the species appears to be using a narrow range of benthopelagic fauna, suggesting that it is cap able of some degree of prey specialization. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.