Lanternfish (Myctophidae) in the diet of the Cape petrel Daption capense at the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands, Antarctica

• Published in: Polar Biology
• Main Authors: Casaux, R., Soave, G., Coria, N.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 1998
• Subjects: Fildes; Fildes peninsula; Harmony Point; Laurie; Laurie Island; South Orkney Islands; South Shetland Islands; Antarc*; Antarctica; Cape Petrel; Cape Petrels; Daption capense; Polar Biology
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/52809/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/52809/1/3438.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000050315

All of the fish identified in stomach contents and regurgitations of breeding and chick Cape petrels collected during January and February 1996 at Fildes Peninsula and Harmony Point, both in the South Shetland Islands and at Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands, were myctophids, a family never previously reported in the diet of breeding Cape petrels. Electrona antarctica was the most important fish prey, followed by Electrona carlsbergi at Fildes Peninsula, Krefftichthys anderssoni at Harmony Point and Gymnoscopelus braueri at Laurie Island. The absence of Pleuragramma antarcticum in the diet of this petrel, which is considered a P. antarcticum-feeder, is discussed.