The diet of the peacock wrasse, Symphodus (Crenilabrus) tinca (Labridae), in the southern coast of Tunisia

The feeding habits of the peacock wrasse, Symphodus (Crenilabrus) tinca (Linnaeus, 1758), from the southern coast of Tunisia were investigated with respect to fish size and season. Stomach contents of 1334 specimens, 8.1-23.1 cm total length, were analyzed. Of the total, 1166 were empty (87.4%). This percentage varied over the year, with a maximum during the spawning period (MayJuly) and minimum in February and August. Crustaceans and mollusks constituted the main prey in both the small and large size classes. As fish grew, the proportion of isopods in the stomachs decreased and the proportion of shrimps and benthic organisms increased. Diet composition varied seasonally, with crustaceans the most important prey item in all seasons especially summer and autumn. Higher feeding activity in winter may be related to the reproductive cycle of the wrasse and the abundance of benthic organisms. Results indicate that the peacock wrasse feeds on a wide range of prey items and is an opportunistic predator.