FOOD-HABITS OF SQUIRRELFISH, ADIORYX-SUBORBITALIS, IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA

Stomach contents were examined from 12 squirrelfish captured in the Gulf of California along the coast of Baja California Sur during July and Aug. 1976. Numerically, crustaceans comprised 93.7% of the total stomach contents. Food items included crabs (primarily branchyurans), amphipods, shrimps (Natantia), gastropod mollusks, isopods and fish. Other food items were 1 bivalve mollusk, 1 sea urchin spine and fish bones. Feeding occurred mainly at night, as indicated by full stomachs with only slightly digested contents in the early morning hours (0600-0800 h). Diving behaviors were discussed. Squirrelfish tend to remain hidden in rock crevices in groups of 10-40 during the day.