FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF MUGIL CEPHALUS (LINNE, 1758) FROM GRAND-LAHOU LAGOON (COTE DIVOIRE)

Mugil cephalus is a permanent and abundant fish species in coastal, estuarine or lagoon ecosystems. This species was sampled in the lagoon of Grand-Lahou (Cote dIvoire) for the study of its diet and its feeding ethology. Stomachs were removed and their contents identified using identification keys to determine the diet. 88 specimens of M. cephalus were examined for food and feeding habits. 42 (47.72%) of the fish had empty stomach. Analysis of stomach contents showed that phytoplankton is the most consumed with a numerical percentage of occurrence of 94.98% (Cyanobacteria, Chlorophytes, Diatoms) and a percentage of occurrence is 64.9%. The proportion of zooplankton is 4.98% (cladocerans, copepods, foraminifera, rotifers and nematodes) according to the numerical percentage and 18.77% according to the frequency of occurrence. Detritus has an occurrence percentage of 8.43 %. Diet is mainly composed of diatom.