Premium
Foraging behaviour and prey discrimination in the bluespotted maskray Dasyatis kuhlii
Author(s) -
Tillett B. J.,
Tibbetts I. R.,
Whithead D. L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.02022.x
Subject(s) - predation , foraging , biology , demersal zone , crypsis , range (aeronautics) , stingray , fishery , zoology , selection (genetic algorithm) , ecology , optimal foraging theory , pelagic zone , materials science , composite material , artificial intelligence , computer science
A study observing the foraging behaviours and prey discrimination of a common demersal stingray, the bluespotted maskray Dasyatis kuhlii was performed under controlled laboratory conditions. A selection of prey species and masses were offered at depths of 10 and 50 mm in sand. Foraging efficiency and prey selection at both burial depths were compared. Dasyatis kuhlii selected the ghost shrimps, Trypaea australiensis and T. australiensis >2·5 g, range ± 0·2 g though foraging errors represented by prey being excavated and not consumed suggested a limited discriminatory ability at the point of detection. Burial depth did not influence prey species, mass selection or discriminatory ability.