Manas, H.M.; Ghosh, S.; Rohit, P.; Rajesh, K.M.; Abdussamad, E.M.; Satishkumar, M.; Pokkathappada, A.A.; Rathinam, M.M., and Divipala, I., 2023. Feeding aspects of dolphinfish, Coryphaena hippurus (Linnaeus, 1758), exploited from Indian waters. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(4), 675–684. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The common dolphinfish, Coryphaena hippurus, is one of the top predatory fish in pelagic waters, landed all along the Indian coast. The present study was conducted to gain a holistic knowledge of the food and feeding habits of the common dolphinfish from Indian waters. Around 2559 specimens were studied, of which 65.8% were male and 34.2% were female. The species fed on several prey items encountered in all months, scads being the dominant group and the highest preference in fishes >60 cm total length (TL). Fishes of TL <45 cm mainly fed on whitebaits; those 45–60 cm fed on crabs and scads, indicating a shift in prey preference with change in body size and the species being opportunistic feeders, preferring abundant prey species in the environment. August to March showed similar food preferences and overlapping of prey items. This study will help us understand the trophodynamics of the common dolphinfish, allowing policy makers to formulate unified management and conservation measures for sustainable exploitation of the species from Indian waters.