Trophic studies are key to understand the ecological role of marine species in natural ecosystems. In this study, we examined the trophic ecology of the holocephalan rabbitfish Chimaera monstrosa, a demersal chondrichthyan considered Near Threatened by the Mediterranean red list assessment of the IUCN. The study was based on the analysis of the stomach content of 86 individuals inhabiting deep-sea waters of the Gulf of Lions (northwestern Mediterranean Sea). Additionally, to the description of the diet and trophic position of this species, we compared its diet between sexes and maturity stages. The results revealed that the rabbitfish in this Mediterranean ecosystem is a mesopredator, specialized on the consumption of crustaceans and feeding almost exclusively on the decapod Monodaeus couchii, independently of sex or maturity stage. These results grant new information about the trophic ecology of this rarely studied species in the Mediterranean Sea.

中文翻译：

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地中海西北部深海生态系统中兔鱼 Chimaera monstrosa 高度特化的摄食习性

营养研究是了解海洋物种在自然生态系统中的生态作用的关键。在这项研究中，我们检查了全头兔鱼Chimaera monstrosa的营养生态学，这是一种被 IUCN 地中海红色名录评估视为近危的底层软骨鱼类。该研究基于对居住在狮子湾（地中海西北部）深海水域的 86 个人的胃内容物的分析。此外，为了描述该物种的饮食和营养位置，我们比较了它在性别和成熟阶段之间的饮食。结果表明，这个地中海生态系统中的兔鱼是一种中食性动物，专门食用甲壳类动物，几乎只以十足目 Monodaeus couchii 为食，独立于性别或成熟阶段。这些结果提供了有关地中海这种很少研究的物种的营养生态学的新信息。