• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.354-360
• /
• 2023

The diet composition of Tanaka's snailfish, Liparis tanakae were collected by bottom trawl net in the Yellow Sea of Korea during 2022 (April, August, October, and November). The size of the specimens ranged from 3.8 to 52.2 cm in total length. L. tanakae were primary consumed caridea shrimps (Crangon hakodatei, Eualus spathulirostris, etc.) and specialist feeder mainly consumed caridea shirmps (C. hakodatei). The L. tanakae's trophic level is 3.63. Caridea shrimps were the primary prey items for all size groups (<20 cm, 20~30 cm, 30~40 cm, ≥40 cm). The proportion of E. spathulirostris has increased as the body size of L. tanakae increased, whereas the proportion of C. hakodatei decreased gradually. As the body size of L. tanakae increased the mean weight of prey per stomach (mW/ST) tended to increase significantly (One-way ANOVA, P<0.05). The caridea shrimps were the primary prey items throught all seasons. In summer, the main prey items were the C. hakodatei, however, in autumn, the proportion of C. hakodatei decreased while the proportion of E. spathulirostris increased.