Feeding Habits of the Patagonian Rockfish Sebastes oculatus (Sebastidae) in Central Patagonia, Atlantic Ocean

The present study aimed to assess the feeding habits of Sebastes oculatus from the analysis of stomach content and to evaluate the influence of environmental and biological variables on occurrence of prey in stomach. Results showed that S. oculatus feeds mainly on the squat lobster Grimothea gregaria, crustacean megalopa, polychaetes and fish. The main factor that influenced occurrence of prey in stomach was the season and the importance of these prey items varied from season to season. The diet composition of S. oculatus gives clear evidence of its carcinophagous habits. The species feeds mostly on demersal and benthic invertebrates, but also on some pelagic fishes and crustaceans that live on the rocky reef. It allows assuming that S. oculatus is an ambush predator that does not actively search for its prey.