Feeding of Todarodes pacificus (Cephalopoda, Ommastrephidae) in the Sea of Japan in summer

Todarodes pacificus Steenstrup, 1880 is a consumer of III-IV order and freds on some 50 various planktonic and nectonic species in summer. Its main prey in the Sea of Japan are squid, fish, amphipoda, and euphausiacea. The proportion of these groups was different in various regions of the Sea of Japan. Planktonic crawfish comprised 80% in coastal and shelf waters and 66% - in subarctic waters. In the international zone the share of Crustacea was reduced up to 47%, that of nekton food (squids) increased considerably (49%). In waters of subtropical structure the main food was represented by nekton organisms: squid (47%) and fish (46%). The squid preyed on the most abundant species and on specimens with optimal dimensions. The shape of nektonic animals increases with T. pacificus growth.