FEEDING BEHAVIOUR OF BLUE SWIMMER CRAB (POTUNUS PELAGICUS) IN HORMUZGAN PROVINCE WATERS

This research was carried out to study the feeding behaviour of Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus pelagicus) in Hormuzgan province waters from October 2001 to December 2002. Samplings were done in different methods by presence on research vessels, fishing vessels and dhows in addition to collect the samples from stake-nets. 490 stomach contents were observed under steriomicroscope in which among them the number of full, semi-full and empty stomachs were 136,197 and 157, respectively. The food contents were classified into 4 main groups namely; fish, mollusc, crustacean and plankton. The Index of C.V. was estimated 32.04 . This figure shows that blue swimmer crab can be assumed as a gluttonous species.