The Food and Feeding Habits of the Kumu, Parupeneus porphyreus
The Food and Feeding Habits of the Kumu, Parupeneus porphyreus
Date
1969-02-01
Authors
Mahi, Cherrie Ann
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University of Hawai'i, Honolulu
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Abstract
The kumu, Parupeneus porphyreus, is one of the most valuable reef fishes in Hawaii. It is a member of the goatfish family (Mullidae) and
is endemic to Hawaii. One hundred and ninety-eight specimens, ranging
in size from 31 to 306 mm, were collected from four areas around Oahu,
Hawaii. Collections were made from July through November, 1968. The
anatomy and the contents of the digestive systems were examined
The digestive system is short. The stomach is V-shaped with a bulbiform
pylorus. There are 20 pyloric caeca. The instestine has one siphonal
loop. Transforming specimens differ in having a shorter, straight intestine.
They also have sharper pharangeal teeth and longer gill rakers than
do the adults.
Occurrence of food in the entirA gastrointestinal tract was used in
ranking relative fullness. These rankings, compared with time of capture,
indicated feeding was nocturnal or crepuscular among larger fish (only
very young kumu fed during the day) and that food passed through the alimentary
canal within 19 hours. Twenty-three food items were identified;
12 of them occurred in >10% of the guts. Crabs were the most important
food, followed by other crustaceans (copepods, isopods, other decapods)
and other invertebrates. Sand occurred in 57% of the specimens. An extensive
comparison of food items vs. fish size demonstrated various relationships.
Although crabs were eaten by nearly all fish, only large kumu
ate Stenopus and other fish, and only small kumu ate copepods and isopods.
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Mahi, Cherrie Ann. The Food and Feeding Habits of the Kumu, Parupeneus porphyreus. Honolulu: University of Hawaii, 1969.
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56 pages
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Related To
Theses for the degree of Master of Science (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Zoology; no. 13xx?
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