Diet of three Crenuchidae species in streams of Alto Paranapanema basin Ingrid Hernandez Neubauer, Mauricio Cetra, Fabio Cop Ferreira, Ursulla Pereira Souza

Abstract

This study analyzed the diet of three Characiformes, Crenuchidae, species. Sampling was conducted with an electric fishing device, from June to November of 2014, at the micro basins Guapiara, Almas and Verde which are 1^st to 3^rd order tributaries within Alto Paranapanema River Basin. Diet was quantified by the “Feeding Preference Degree” (FPD), for 14 specimens of Characidium gomesi, 12 of Characidium schubarti and 10 Characidium zebra. Species diet showed the consumption of 17 different food items, of which mostly were aquatic insects. According to the FPD, most of the items were classified as the occasional degree and therefore, stating the generalist characteristic of the species demonstrating an omnivore diet towards insectivore.