Pellets of Cape Cormorants as Indicators of Diet

Pellets of Cape Cormorants (Phalacrocorax capensis) are cast daily and can be used to determine prey species through identification of otoliths and other indigestible parts. Experiments in captivity indicate that some otoliths may be partially or entirely digested, making it impossible to estimate the original size or number of fish ingested per meal or per day.