| Summary: | Food habits of Pacific coast flatfish (Heterosomata) have been studied by Orcutt (1950), Arora (l95l) and Miller (1967). Food habits are one aspect of flatfish biology which is easily studied and can give insight into the ecology of flatfish. In general, life histories of most flatfish are poorly known. The purpose of this study was to investigate the food habits and possible seasonal variations in the diets of six species of flatfish collected offshore from the Pajaro River in Monterey Bay, California during the period 2 April, 1971, to 8 May, 1972. The six species of flatfish selected for this report were the most abundant, permanent residents in the study area. They include the Pacific sanddab, Cithariohthys sordidus (Girard); speckled sanddab, Cithariohthys stigmaeus Jordan and Gilbert; English sole, Paronhrys vetulus Girard; starry flounder, Platichthya stellatus (Pallas); curlfin turbot, Pleuroniothys decurrens Jordan and Gilbert; and the sand sole, Psettichthys melanostictus Girard. Of these six species, the starry flounder and English sole have received the most attention (Orcutt, 1950; Miller, 1967; Smith and Nitos, 1969). Science and Mathematics
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