Abundance, distribution, feeding habits and trophic interactions in five flatfish species (Pleuronectiformes) in the Mexican central Pacific

We analyzed the spatial distribution patterns of the five most abundant flatfish species caught by shrimp trawl nets on the continental shelf of the Mexican central Pacific. Food diets and trophic interactions between of the flatfish species are described as well. Flatfishes are distributed between 20 and 60 m depth. Bothus leopardinus showed the greatest abundance during the cold season (January-May), the other species did not show significant differences between seasons (cold and warm). The diet of the flatfish species consist of crustaceans, fishes and cephalopods. B. leopardinus and Syacium ovale are consumers of crustaceans, such as crabs, shrimps and stomatopods. Cyclopsetta panamensis, C. querna and Monolene assaedae based their diet in fishes and cephalopods. The feeding strategy of the five species analyzed is considered to be generalist, consuming a high number of preys in both seasons. Between the flatfish species, low values of overlapping in the diets were observed in size class and periods of the year. The flatfish species consume the available food resources and could change the preys consumed, according to prey availability, to avoid intra and interspecific competition.