Ecology of Trichiurus lepturus
 
Main Ref. Nakamura, I. and N.V. Parin, 1993
Remarks Generally over muddy bottoms of shallow coastal waters (Ref. 9351). Often enter estuaries (Ref. 9351). Adults and juveniles have opposing complementary vertical diurnal feeding migration. Juveniles and small adults form schools about 100 m above the bottom during daytime and form loose feeding aggregations at night-time near the surface where they prey on planktonic organisms such as euphausiids, small pelagic planktonic crustaceans and small fishes (anchovies, bregmacerotids, etc.). Large adults feed on pelagic prey (anchovies, sardines, myctophiids, bregmacerotids, carangoids, sphyraenids, atherinids, sciaenids, Scomber, Trichiurus, squid and crustaceans, etc.) near the surface during daytime and migrate to the bottom at night. One of the main predators during summer in a sandy beach at Canto Grande, Santa Catarina, Brazil (Ref. 55758).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Trichiurus lepturus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Soft Bottom: sand; mud;
Substrate Ref. Martin, F.D. and J.W. Patus, 1984
Special habitats Coral Reefs;
Special habitats Ref. Nguyen, N.T. and V.Q. Nguyen, 2006

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Nakamura, I. and N.V. Parin, 1993
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Nakamura, I. and N.V. Parin, 1993
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 4.42 0.37 4.39 0.74 Troph of adults from 4 studies.
From individual food items 4.20 0.75 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Portsev, P.I., 1980
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. cnidaria)
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