Food and diel feeding periodicity of juvenile sicklefin mullet, Liza falcipinnis (Mugilidae) in a 'closed' tropical lagoon
Juvenile sicklefin mullet, Liza falcipinnis (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1836) in the ‘closed’ Fosu Lagoon (5°07’N, 1°16’W), Ghana, fed on a wide range of food items mainly diatoms, green algae, ostracods, and particulate organic and inorganic matter. The fish filtered sand particles in the size range 10-650 µm, but those measuring 50-100 µm were the most predominant. The relative gut length (intestine length to standard length ratio) ranged from 2.2-5.1. Both relative gut length and diet did not change significantly with size of fish. The species showed a diurnal feeding habit, and the peak feeding at 10.00 or 14.00 h on different days may be ascribed to the increase in light intensity at these times.