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vol-12FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF Raja SPECIES (BATOIDEI)
IN THE MEDITERRANEAN WATERS OF ALEXANDRIA.
S. H. ABD EL-AZIZ.
Department of Oceanography. Faculty of Science. Alex. Univ., Egypt.
ABSTRACT
The analysis of the stomachs of the following
species of rays: R. radula D.• R•• fraletus L. and
R. clavata L. revealed the following points; within
each species the she group to a large extent preyed
on different ftems. Between species. diets of R.
clavata and R. radula , were the most similar. The
youngest individuals of these three species fed
upon small benthic or nektobenthlc crustacea.
Crustaceans mainly shrimps and crabs were important
to all three species. Fish. although also consumed
by R. radula and R. clavata were the predominant
fQod of large R. .iraletus. It is concluded that
all three species of rays are partially indiscriminate
feeders whose selection of food items is dependent
on the availability of potential preys. their speeds
relative to that of the preys and the str~cture
of their mouth parts.
