Feeding aspects of the dolphin Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, 1758 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Abstract

The analysis of the stomach contents of 500 dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus is presented. The fish were caught from the shoreline to 25 miles off Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Fifty-one prey were identifíed from the food items of the dolphinfish, which pertain to three categories: fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans and, according to the index of relative importance, represent 56.3%, 23.1% and 20.6%, respectively. Of the 51 prey, 18 represented 97%. Dosidicus gigas, Pleuroncodes planipes, Balistes polylepis. Cypselurus callopterus and Auxis spp. contributed 70% of the food supply. The dolphinfish is characterized as a top predator or a highly voracious organism with a wide trophic spectrum. Its food habits tend to be closely related to the epipelagic environment.