DIET AND FEEDING STRATEGY OF GALEUS MELASTOMUS IN THE CONTINENTAL SLOPE OFF SOUTHERN PORTUGAL

. - Sixty individuals of Galeus melastomus were caught during an experimental survey using longlines carried out at depths between 950 and 1100 m along the south coast of Portugal during the second half of September 2003. Individuals ranged from 560 to 740 mm total length, with a large predominance of females. Myctophids, unidentified teleosts, Sergia robusta and Histioteuthis meleagroteuthis were the dominant prey categories. A prey diversity index was calculated as 2.96 and 46% of the stomachs with remains had more than one prey category. The vacuity index was 17%. The feeding strategy of G. melastomus is considered generalized since each individual feeds on several different prey types. Trophic level estimated for the species in the study area was 4.02, which is in agreement with other published data.