| The orbiculate cardinal fish <i>Sphaeramia orbicularis</i> is the most abundant teleost among the root system of the extensive mangrove forests bordering Gazi Bay, Kenya. The species was never recorded from the bay proper and it can thus be considered to be a true mangrove resident. The sampled population clearly consisted of two cohorts: the modes were approximately 65mm and 80 mm. Most individuals with standard lengths >40mm had mature gonads ; the number of eggs ranged from 4,700 to 10,000. <i>S. orbicularis</i> are carnivores, mainly feeding on small epi- and hyperbenthic crustaceans. Numerically, gammaridean amphipods and tanaids were the dominant prey categories in the stomachs of both size classes. Individuals belonging to... |
