Food spectrum and some biological characteristics of the sea Catfish Plotosus lineatus (Thungerg, 1787) in the marine waters of Latakia Governorate, Syria

Abstract

The research was conducted with the aim of studying the qualitative composition of food items included in the dietary spectrum of the fish Plotosus lineatus, some biological parameters (Condition factor, General gut fullness factor and Hepato-Somatic Index), and the length, weight, and sex structure of the studied individuals. The research was conducted for one year from 31/9/2024 to 3/9/2025, P. lineatus 136 fish individuals were collected from the coastal waters of Latakia using Bottom Traps. The research showed that the studied species feeds on (8) Prey items belonging to three taxonomic groups: (Crustaceans, Molluscs, and Fish). Crustaceans ranked first, represented by (Penaeidae and the Crab Thalamita sp.), followed by Molluscs and then by fish. The results also showed that the sizes of the sea Catfish were similar, and there were no significant differences between the average standard length of males and females. For the average digestive tract fullness index, significant differences between the 2 sexes were found but there was no significant difference between the average Somatic Hepatic index. Growth was allometric, irregular, and negative. There was a strong positive correlation between length and weight, for both males and females, and for all individuals.