Diet and feeding strategy of Octopus maorum in southeast Tasmania

Abstract

The maori octopus (Octopus maorum Hutton 1880), in Eaglehawk Bay, southeast Tasmania, consumes at least four crustacean and six fish species. The balance of the diet consists of small gastropods and other O. maorum. The analysis of stomach contents data employed graphical methods to evaluate prey importance and feeding strategy. O. maorum exhibits population specialization towards the crab Paragrapsus gaimardii, individual specialization on atherinid fishes and generalization on several other prey. Results of conventional dietary analysis are presented for comparison.