Abstract
Linuparus trigonus (Palinuridae) was collected from northeast Australia at depths of 220 to 300 m in the austral summer of 1985–1986 and its diet was analysed for diel feeding-periodicity and composition. The sex and size of the lobsters and the depth at which they were caught were recorded. About 35% of the foreguts were less than 10% full. L. trigonus appears to be a predator of slow-moving or nearsessile benthic invertebrates; its diet is mainly bivalves, gastropods, ophiuroids, crustaceans, polychaetes, and foraminiferans. Most dietary items differed significantly between the size classes of lobster. The frequency of crustacean remains increased with depth and more gastropods were consumed by lobsters caught at 260 m than at other depths. No significant periodicity in feeding was found for L. trigonus. The foreguts of three Metanephrops spp. (Nephropidae) collected from north-west Australia in August 1983 (M. andamanicus) and January/February 1984 (M. australiensis and M. boschmai) were nearly empty, and nearly half were less than 10% full. Fish, crustaceans and squids were the most common food items eaten. The main food items varied between the species: M. andamanicus ate nearly equal amounts of fish and crustaceans; M. australiensis ate chiefly crustaceans; M. boschmai mainly ate fish and seldom fed on squid. Metanephrops spp. appear to feed by attacking mobile animals and tearing off appendages or by scavenging.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Berry, P. F. (1969). The biology of Nephrops andamanicus Wood-Mason (Decapoda, Reptantia). Investl Rep. Oceanogr. Res. Inst., Durban 22: 1–55
Berry, P.F. (1971). The biology of the spiny lobster Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus) off the east coast of Southern Africa. Investl Rep. Oceanogr. Res. Inst., Durban 28: 1–75
Berry, P. F., George, R. W. (1972). A new species of the genus Linuparus (Crustacea, Palinuridae) from south-east Africa. Zoöl. Meded., Leiden 46(2): 17–23
Beurios, J. (1971). Regime alimentaire de la langouste Jasus paulensis (Heller, 1862) des Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam (Ocean Indien) resultats preliminaires. Téthys 3: 943–948
Bliss, C. I. (1970). Statistics in biology. Vol II. McGraw Hill, New York
Bruce, A. J. (1965). A new species of the genus Linuparus White, from the South China Sea. (Crustacea Decapoda). Zoöl. Meded., Leiden 41: 1–15
Carter, D. J., Maxwell, G. H., Bowtell, C. (1983). Cautious optimism over potential scampi fishery on NW Shelf. Aust. Fish. 42(11): 2–12
Chapman, C. J. (1980). Ecology of juvenile and adult Nephrops. In: Cobb, J. S., Phillips, B. F. (eds.) The biology and management of lobsters: ecology and management. Academic Press, New York, p. 143–178
Davis, T. L. O., Ward, T. J. (1984). CSIRO finds two new scampi grounds off the North West Shelf. Aust. Fish. 43(8): 41–45
Fielder, D. R. (1965). The spiny lobster, Jasus lalandei (H. Milne-Edwards), in South Australia. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 16: 351–367
Hill, B. J. (1976). Natural food, foregut clearance-rate and activity of the crab Scylla serrata. Mar. Biol. 34: 109–116
Hyslop, E. J. (1980). Stomach contents analysis — a review of methods and their application. J. Fish Biol. 17: 411–429
Joll, L. M., Phillips, B. F. (1984). Natural diet and growth of juvenile western rock lobsters Panulirus cygnus George. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 75: 145–169
Kanciruk, P. (1980). Ecology of juvenile and adult Palinuridae. In: Cobb, J. S., Phillips, B. F. (eds.) The biology and management of lobsters: ecology and management. Academic Press, New York, p. 59–96
Maigret, J. (1977). Contribution to the study of the rock lobsters of the west coast of Africa. Bull. Inst. fr. Afr. noire (sér. A) 39: 601–626
Pemberton, S. G., Frey, R. W. Walker, R. G. (1984). Probable lobster burrows in the cardium formation (upper Cretaceous) of southern Alberta, Canada, and comments on modern burrowing decapods. J. Paleont. 58: 1422–1435
Takemura, A. (1971). Studies on underwater sounds. III. On the mechanism of sound production and the underwater sounds produced by Linuparus trigonus. Mar. Biol. 9: 87–91
Thomas, H. J., Davidson, C. (1962). The food of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus (L.). Mar. Res. 3: 1–15
Ward, T. J., Davis, T. L. O. (1987). Diel periodicity of Metanephrops australiensis and other deep-water crustaceans of northwest Australia. Fish. Res. 5: 91–97
Wassenberg, T. J., Hill, B. J. (1987). Feeding by the sand crab Portunus pelagicus on material discarded from prawn trawlers in Moreton Bay, Australia. Mar. Biol. 95: 387–393
Zar, J. H. (1974). Biostatistical analysis. Englewood Cliffs, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by G. F. Humphrey, Sydney
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wassenberg, T.J., Hill, B.J. Diets of four decapod crustaceans (Linuparus trigonus, Metanephrops andamanicus, M. australiensis and M. boschmai) from the continental shelf around Australia. Mar. Biol. 103, 161–167 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00543343
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00543343