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Food preferences of the Mediterranean moray eel, Muraena helena (Pisces: Muraenidae), in the southern Adriatic Sea

Abstract The food and feeding habits of the Mediterranean moray eel, Muraena helena, collected in the southern Adriatic Sea by bottom longline fishing, were examined. Of the total 146 specimens, 37 had almost or totally empty stomachs. Muraena helena is a carnivorous species whose diet primarily includes benthic fishes and crustaceans. The diet consisted of at least 27 different prey taxa belonging to 8 major groups. The dietary preferences among the sexes and seasons did not differ statistically, but diet depended on age and reflected differences in prey availability. Also, diet composition significantly differed according to depth, with the cephalopod Octopus vulgaris occurring in the diet of morays caught just below 30 m, while crustaceans were more common in the diet of specimens sampled in shallower waters. Results indicated that M. helena is an opportunistic species that feeds on motile prey. Furthermore, a continuing study with a well-designed sample collection is needed to accurately assess the trophic status and the predatory impact of M. helena within the Mediterranean coastal communities.