Food and Feeding habits of Glossgobius giuris (Hamilton, 1822): A Historical Perspective from 1995 Data in Matsyagedda Stream, Alluri Sitharama Raju District, Andhra Pradesh, India

The present study provides a historical insight into the food and feeding habits of Glossogobius giuris based on gut content data collected in 1995 from Matsyagedda Stream, located in the Alluri Sitharama Raju District of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 254 specimens were examined monthly to determine diet composition using percentage index of preponderance and frequency of occurrence methods. The diet was categorized into nine major groups: rotifers, nematodes, crustaceans, insects, prawns, molluscs, fish and fish larvae, fish scales and spines, and digested matter. Crustaceans, insects, prawns, and fish formed the principal diet, with seasonal and ontogenetic variations. Juveniles primarily consumed crustaceans and insects (82%), while adults fed predominantly on fish and prawns (69%). Fish and larvae were dominant during rainy and winter seasons, while crustaceans and insects increased in summer. These findings highlight the opportunistic carnivorous feeding behavior of Glossogobius giuris reflecting its adaptability to prey availability and environmental fluctuations. The study also indicates a shift in dietary preference with growth, emphasizing the species' role as both predator and prey in the freshwater ecosystem. This historical dataset offers a valuable baseline for future comparative ecological studies, particularly in understanding dietary shifts due to habitat disturbance or climate change. Preserving such freshwater habitats is crucial for sustaining the biodiversity and trophic balance of native ichthyofauna like Glossogobius giuris.