Food and feeding habits of Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) occurring from Hooghly-Matlah estuary of West Bengal, India

The food and feeding habits of Otolithoides pama collected from three different sites of Hooghly-Matlah estuary, West Bengal, India for a period of 18 months (November 2016 to May 2018) were studied. Both fishes and prawns have dominated the food items in the gut. A very high percentage of empty stomach frequently occurred throughout the year. The species is a macrophagous carnivore and feeds mainly small fishes and prawns. The feeding intensity was more in juveniles stages with prawns and fishes dominated the gut contents while teleosts preferred by the adults. Among the teleosts the main food items were Otolithoides pama, Harpadon nehereus, Secutor insidiator, Sardinella spp., Setipinna spp., other sciaenids like Johnius spp., other clupieds like Tenualosa ilisha, Ilisha megaloptera, Polynemus paradesius, Arius spp., mullets like Mugil and Chelon spp., Rastrelliger kanagurta, Coilia dussumieri, Bregmaceros maclellandi, Trichiurus spp., and unidentified teleosts body parts. Among non-penaeid prawns Acetes spp. was the most dominant food items, among penaeids Parapenaeopsis spp., Metapenaeopsis spp., Metapenaeus spp., Parapenaeus spp., Solenocera spp. constitute food items. GaSI was found high during February, June and October and low during July–August for both the sexes. The monthly mean RLG values were highest during October for male and March for female. Both seasonal changes in diet composition and ontogenetic changes were noticed between juveniles and adults. •The food and feeding habits of Otolithoides pama were studied for a period of 18 months.•The species is a macrophagous carnivore and feeds mainly small fishes and prawns.•A very high percentage of empty stomach frequently occurred throughout the year.•GaSI was found high during February, June and October and low during July–August for both the sexes.•Both seasonal changes in diet composition and ontogenetic changes were noticed between juveniles and adults.