Feeding habits of billfishes (Carangaria: Istiophoriformes) in the Ecuadorian Pacific Ocean Author Loor-Andrade, Peggy Facultad de Ciencias del Mar. Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí. Vía San Mateo S / N. 130802 Manta, Manabí, Ecuador & Departamento Central de Investigación. Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí. Vía San Mateo S / N. 130802 Manta, Manabí, Ecuador peggysue.loor@gmail.com Author Pincay-Espinoza, Jonathan Departamento Central de Investigación. Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí. Vía San Mateo S / N. 130802 Manta, Manabí, Ecuador jona.eduar@hotmail.com Author Carrera-Fernández, Maribel Facultad de Ciencias del Mar. Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí. Vía San Mateo S / N. 130802 Manta, Manabí, Ecuador & Departamento Central de Investigación. Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí. Vía San Mateo S / N. 130802 Manta, Manabí, Ecuador carreraf.maribel@gmail.com Author Rosas-Luis, Rigoberto Departamento Central de Investigación. Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí. Vía San Mateo S / N. 130802 Manta, Manabí, Ecuador & Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Pesquerías, Universidad Veracruzana, Boca del Río, Veracruz, 94290, México riroluis@yahoo.com.mx text Neotropical Ichthyology 2017 2017-09-28 15 3 e 160162 e 160162 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20160162 journal article 10.1590/1982-0224-20160162 1982-0224 20126539

Tab. 1. Diet composition of Makaira nigricans, Kajikia audax, Istiophorus platypterus and Xiphias gladius by frequency of occurrence O), per cent prey- specific abundance Ni), per cent number (%N), prey-specific weight (%P) per cent weight (%W), and prey-specific index of relative importance (%PSIRI). *observed only during dry season, **observed only during rainy season.

	Makaira nigricans							Kajikia audax						Istiophorus platypterus					Xiphias gladius
	O	%P Ni %N		Wi	%W	% PSIRI	%F O	%P Ni	%N	%P Wi	%W	% PSIRI	%F O	%P Ni	%N	Wi	%W	% PSIRI	O	%P Ni	%N	Wi	%W	% PSIRI
Osteichthyes
Aluterus monoceros	1.2	100	1.2	100	1.2	1.2*	0.6	100	0.6	100	0.6	0.6*
Auxis spp.	57.1	92.1	52.7	91	52	52.3	51.3	85.6	43.9	85	43.6	43.7	75.0	88.8	66.6	89.0	66.8	66.7	2.8	75.0	2.1	70.4	2.0	2.0
Auxis thazard							0.6	100	0.6	100	0.6	0.6	1.0	100	1.0	100	1.0	1.0
Balistes polylepis							1.3	75.0	1.0	69.1	0.9	0.9*
Belonidae							1.3	100	1.3	100	1.3	1.3**	3.0	59.6	1.8	56.7	1.7	1.7
Coryphaena hippurus	1.2	100	1.2	100	1.2	1.2*
Decapterus macrosoma							1.3	75.0	1.0	67.6	0.9	0.9
Etrumeus teres													3.0	32.9	1.0	38.8	1.2	1.1*	1.9	14.6	0.3	6.3	0.1	0.2*
Katsuwonus pelamis	7.1	87.5	6.3	93.5	6.7	6.5	1.9	100	1.9	100	1.9	1.9							1.9	41.7	0.8	34.6	0.6	0.7
Lagocephalus lagocephalus	7.1	86.7	6.2	85.2	6.1	6.1	10.4	59.5	6.2	57.3	6.00	6.1	19.0	64.6	12.3	65.5	12.4	12.4	6.5	74.3	4.8	70.8	4.6	4.7
Merluccius gayi							1.9	86.7	1.7	89.4	1.7	1.7	3.0	76.9	2.3	60.5	1.8	2.1	1.9	53.1	1.0	44.3	0.8	0.9*
Mugil cephalus	6.0	93.3	5.6	95.6	5.7	5.6	1.9	100	1.9	100	1.9	1.9*							1.9	66.7	1.2	61.4	1.1	1.2*
Opisthonema libertate													1.0	100	1.0	100	1.0	1.0*
Pristigenys serrula	1.2	16.7	0.2	3.8	<0.1	0.1**	1.3	62.5	0.8	91.9	1.2	1.0
Scombridae	1.2	100	1.2	100	1.2	1.2	0.6	50	0.3	64.8	0.4	0.4	1.0	33.3	0.3	15.0	0.2	0.2
Scomber japonicus													2.0	22.5	0.5	40.1	0.8	0.6
Thunnus albacares							1.3	57.1	0.7	99.6	1.3	1.0
Uninditified osteichthyes	17.9	90.2	16.1	87.4	15.6	15.9	26.0	84.2	21.9	84.3	21.9	21.9	9.0	71.8	6.5	73.4	7.3	6.9	3.7	37.5	1.4	29.1	1.1	1.2
Cephalopoda
Ancistrocheirus lesueurii	1.2	100	1.2	100	1.2	1.2*
Argonauta spp.							0.6	50.0	0.3	34.5	0.2	0.3							0.9	50.0	0.5	25.0	0.2	0.3**
Dosidicus gigas	8.3	56.5	4.7	67	5.6	5.1	16.2	66.7	10.8	65.6	10.6	10.7	8.0	49.0	3.9	52.1	4.2	4.0	78.7	89.5	70.4	89.2	70.2	70.3
Hyaloteuthis pelagica																			0.9	22.2	0.2	23.6	0.2	0.2
Liocranchia reinhardti													1.0	12.5	0.1	5.4	0.1	0.1
Loligo sp.													2.0	58.3	1.2	21.7	0.4	0.8**
Onychoteuthidae	1.2	100	1.2	100	1.2	1.2*													1.9	8.5	0.2	6.1	0.1	0.1**
Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis							0.6	100	0.6	100	0.6	0.6							2.8	86.7	2.4	86.7	2.4	2.4
Thysanoteuthis rhombus																			10.2	57.4	5.8	61.1	6.2	6.0**
Uninditified cephalopoda	2.4	100	2.4	100	2.4	2.4	5.8	72.6	4.2	70.6	4.1	4.2	3.0	52.8	1.6	38.9	1.2	1.4	13.9	64.6	9.0	69.2	10.2	9.6