Diel feeding chronology of sandwhiting, Sillago sihama was examined from stomach
collections taken during the months of April, July and December'99 in Mulki estuary
along Dakshina Kannada coast, India. Significant differences in mean stomach content
weight were found between several consecutive 3 hour periods with peak fullness
occurring in early morning and evening hours. The rate of gastric evacuation of natural
food (crustacea, polychaetes and fish) was measured in the field was best described by an
exponential model, with an estimated evacuation time of 8.0 h at a temperature of 28.5
± 1.2°C. Stomach content analysis indicated that this species is a carnivore on a wide
range of benthic, epibenthic and planktonic prey. The principal food items of S. sihama
were crustaceans, polychaetes and fish. Fishes less than 100 mm TL preferred mainly
crustaceans while larger ones depends on polychaetes, crustaceans and fish. The feeding
activity of S. sihama was influenced by tidal cycle
