Variation in diet composition of the mudskipper, Periophthalmodon septemradiatus, from Hau River, Vietnam

Abstract

Periophthalmodon septemradiatus (Hamilton, 1822) is a mudskipper of the Mekong Delta that can be found along estuaries and lower reaches of rivers. In the present study, we determined diet and feeding ecology of this species by analyzing the contents within the stomachs of 1360 fsh samples collected from August 2017 to July 2018. Data analysis suggested that P. septemradiatus is a carnivorous fsh. We found six main food item categories: small fshes, prawns (Acetes spp.), crabs (Uca spp.), mollusks, ants (Dolichoderus sp.), and detritus. Both males and females at diferent sizes, seasons, and habitats ingest primarily Dolichoderus sp., secondarily detritus, and rarely other prey. Diet composition was similar between sexes but varied according to fsh size, season, and habitat. Dolichoderus sp. and detritus regulate the spatial variation of food composition. Our fndings contribute to future artifcial cultivation for conservation.