Feeding Habits of Juvenile Reef Fishes Associated with Panamanian Seagrass Meadows

Juvenile fishes (TL 30–210 mm) in the families Lutjanidae (snappers), Scorpaenidae (scorpion fishes), Haemulidae (grunts) and Mullidae (goatfishes) collected from Panamanian seagrass meadows fed predominantly on decapod crustaceans and fishes and less frequently on a variety of other taxa. In most cases, prey items were identified to either the specific or generic level, allowing conclusions to be drawn about the microhabitats from which prey were taken. Overlap in diet was usually greatest among closely related species. These results correspond well with those of Randall's (1967) study of the feeding habits of the same fish species in the Virgin Islands, with most differences seeming to reflect the larger size of individuals examined by Randall.