Feeding Dynamics and Diet Composition of Black-Banded Trevally [Seriolina nigrofasciata (1829)] from the South-East Arabian Sea

A study on feeding habits of Black-banded trevally, Seriolina nigrofasciata, collected off southwest coast of India, examined stomach contents of 627 specimens from August 2017 to May 2018. The analysis showed that their diet consists mainly of teleost fishes, which were the most significant food item, as reflected by an Index of Relative Importance (IRI) of 49.73. Cephalopods were the next most prevalent prey, with an IRI of 44.54, while crustaceans encompassing shrimp and crabs were seen in small quantities, with an IRI of 5.73. The contents found in the stomachs confirm that S. nigrofasciata is a carnivorous species. Feeding activity was observed to be highest before gonadal maturation and after spawning, but decreased when the majority of individuals were fully mature.