FEEDING-HABITS OF A FISH COMMUNITY IN A TROPICAL COASTAL STREAM, RIO-MATO-GROSSO, BRAZIL

This study deals with the feeding of 17 fish species [Astyanax taeniatus, Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus, H. reticulatus, Mimagoniates microlepis, Spintherbolus broccae, Hoplias malabaricus, Characidium sp., Jobertina interrupta, Gymnotus pantherimus, Pimelodella laterestriga, Rhamdia sp., Hypostomus punctalus, Parotocinclus maculicauda, Rivulus dorni, Phalloceros caudimaculatus, Cinchlasoma facetum and Geophagus brasiliensis] belonging to 9 different families, from a coastal stream in the south-eastern Brazil. The diets of different species were determined in the upper-middle and lower river sections and also in dry and wet seasons. The occurrence frequency method was used. The most frequent food categories and intraspecific feeding variations are discussed. A comparison of feeding habits at other neotropical locations is provided.