Morphometric relationships between the mackerel icefish Campsocephalus gunnari (perciformes, Notothenioidei) and its prey the antarctic krill Euphausia superba (Cristecea, Euphausiacea)

Abstract

Thirty nine stomach contents of Champsocephalus gunnari (Perciformes, Notothenioidei) were studied using quiantitative descriptors of number, weight, frequency and relative importance index. The size and number of preys were correlated with the predator length; also prey number and length were correlated. Only prey length was significantly correlated with predator length. A morphological limitant representated by the size of predator mouth exist, which that restrains prey size that the predator can consume.