Espectro trofico del marlin rayado Tetrapturus audax (Philippi, 1887) en el area de Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico

A study of the feeding habits of 505 striped marlin Tetrapturus audax caught by the sport fishing fleet that operates in the area of Cape San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico, during October 1987 to December 1989, is presented. Striped marlin is found around the year, reducing their abundance at the end of summer and the beginning at autumn. The predominant food is basically composed of epipelagic species from the neritic zone and less oceanic organisms. The most common prey are: chub mackerel Scomber japonicus, California pilchard Sardinops caeruleus and jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas. Seasonal variation of prey composition shows mostly occurrence of schools of epipelagic species. Apparently striped marlin feed during the day preferably on pelagic fishes and occasionally migrate to deeper waters to consume prey which live near or on the sandy bottoms, while during the night they feed mainly on cephalopods. Stability in the composition and abundance of potential prey for striped marlin and other large predators indicates that this area is an important feeding zone.