Preliminary Studies on Food and Feeding Habits of Some Coral Reef Fishes from Ko Khang Khao (Chonburi Province)

Abstract

The study of food and feeding habits of some coral fishes had been conducted twice, one in August and the other in December 1983. Fish specimens were caught by handline method from coral reef areas of Ko Khang Khao in Chonburi Province. Two collections were made; sixty two specimens of fourteen species were examined. Most of them were carnivores; their food were classified into five major groups : they were mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, fishes and marine algae. Teeth of many fishes were considerably very strong, they were found on premaxilla, mandible and pharynx. Most of major animal food were covered with hard shells and skeletons. Some examined fish specimens were found with no food in the digestive tracts.