Feeding and Spawning Seasons of Small-scaled Terapon (Terapon puta) in Bushehr Coastal Waters (Persian Gulf)

Reproductive and spawning seasons of Terapon puta Cuvier and Valencieness 1892 was investigated in Bushehr coastal waters (geographical position from 28˚ 33΄ 203˝N and 51˚ 05΄ 135˝ to 28˚ 59΄ 122˝N and 50˚ 47΄ 988˝E) during 2014. Samples were collected using gillnet and hook. Data information of fork length, gonad stages (in females) and feeding behavior in the species were recorded and analyzed. The results of the study indicating of aggregation of the adults of the species in the Bushehr coastal waters in the summer season. Spawning period in the studied area happened from late of summer to autumn. The results of the nutrition of this species showed that prawn, benthos, fish and worm are the main food items of this species. These results also showed that T. puta is feeding during day and night and is a greedy species. On the bases of the study results, it can be concluded that T. puta resources is not under pressure and have normal situation. The feeding results show; this species can be made a problem for shrimp resources.