| A total of 1,255 stomachs of Brazilian flathead, Percophis brasiliensis, caught on commercial fleet vessels in the Argentine-Uruguayan Coastal Ecosystem between November 2008 and December 2009 was analyzed. 657 (52.4%) had content and 598 (47.6%) were empty. According to the Index of Relative Importance the species consumed, mainly, bony fishes (98.56%) followed by molluscs (1.37%) and crustaceans (0.05%). The most important preys were Trachurus lathami, (64.63%), Engraulis anchoita (27.37%) and squid Loligo sanpaulensis (1.36%). The increase of preys size was proportional to the predator length growth. The 4.25 trophic level value positions Percophis brasiliensis as a tertiary piscivorous consumer. |
