Food and feeding habits of the lesser spotted dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula (L.), in Isle of Man waters

Stomach contents of the lesser spotted dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula, from Isle of Man waters were investigated. Dogfish fed opportunistically on a wide range of macrobenthic fauna with hermit crabs, cockles and whelks the dominant prey. Items of secondary importance included various crabs, callianassid shrimps, bivalve molluscs, holothurians, polychaetes and, when locally abundant, herring, Clupea harengus. Dogfish predated more heavily on molluscs than reported in previous studies, reflecting the abundance of molluscs in the associated benthic community. Composition of the diet altered gradually with dogfish size, reliance on small crustaceans declined and consumption of hermit crabs and molluscs increased with growth. Seasonal changes in the composition of the diet were observed. Feeding intensity was greatest during summer, related in part to increased prey availability, and was least during autumn.