Institut Universitaire de Pêche et d’Aquaculture (IUPA), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques (FST), Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD), Dakar, Senegal
Stomachs of 852 individuals of Zanobatus schoenleinii were sampled at three fishing stations located in the Dakar peninsula to determine diet composition. Three indices (If, Cn and Cp) were used to determine prey occurrence. A feeding coefficient (Q) was used to classify prey into different categories and define the feeding strategy of the species. The results showed a high vacuity in the species, which is thought to be related to the maturation of the gonads and digestion ongoing after the capture of the animal. The food spectrum consisted of nine prey groups including crustaceans especially shrimps which were preferential prey in both cold (Q= 628.31) and warm seasons (Q= 1067.60) and annelids of the genus Nereis as secondary prey during both seasons. Other prey groups such as fish and mollusks were incidental. Comparisons between individuals of different sex, size and fishing area indicated an absence of sexual segregation due to similarities between the diets of males and females. On the other hand, differences between young and adult individuals would indicate a distinct spatial distribution between individuals of different size. With respect to the landing stations, the differences noted between Soumbédioune/Ouakam and Hann allowed to affirm that although the tiger ray feeds selectively on typical prey, it has the capacity to adapt its diet in response to variations in prey availability.