Natural diet of the pink spiny lobster, Palinurus mauritanicus (Malacostraca, Decapoda, Palinuridae), from the Algerian west coast

What is it about?

The pink spiny lobster, Palinurus mauritanicus Gruvel, 1911 is a target species of commercial fisheries along the Algerian west coast. To better understand the natural diet of a population of P. mauritanicus, a study was conducted at three main fishing ports (Béni Saf, Bouzedjar, and Oran. This approach involved analysing stomach contents and determining ingested prey, The results showed that fish, Crustacea, Annelida Polychaeta, and Mollusca were the major components of the pink spiny lobster's diet. Echinodermata, Sponges, and Bryozoa were classified as minor groups. Based on the vacuity index, the pink spiny lobster was found to be feeding intensively in spring and decreasingly so in summer, autumn and winter. The pink spiny lobster was characterized as an omnivorous generalist and opportunist.

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