Feeding behavior of the European hake Merluccius merluccius Linnaeus, 1758 (Family: Gadidae) from Egyptian Mediterranean waters off Alexandria

The feeding habits of the European hake, Merluccius merluccius Linnaeus, 1758, collected by the trawlings operated from the Egyptian Mediterranean waters off Alexandria during the period from March 2009 till February 2010 was investigated with respect to season and fish size. Stomach contents of 549 specimens, total length (TL) of 14.2–53.3 cm, showed that only (32.2%) were full of food, the rest had their stomachs either renversed (30.6%) or empty (37.2%). The filling index was maximum during winter (4.6). Analysis of food contents revealed that this species is mostly carnivorous fish. It feeds on various food items including pisces, crustacea, molluscs, algae and plant detritus. The main fish prey in the diet of these fishes were Sardinella aurita (11.9%), Caranx rhonchus (6.8%) and Engraulis encrasicollus (3.4%). Test of feeding diversity according to size groups were found to be high for fishes of size group (20–30 cm) (H = 2.107). Seasonal feeding diversity showed a high value during summer (H′ = 2.118). The test of food overlap according to season show insignificant difference between all seasons except between spring and autumn (0.55). Also, differences food overlap according to size groups were found to be significant (<20 cm, 20–30 cm and >30 cm).