[en] Summary.— The feeding ecology of Euchilichthys guentheri (Schilthuis, 1891) of Malebo Pool
(Congo River, Kinshasa, DRC) was studied between January 2008 and October 2010. The stomach contents
of 243 individuals were analysed and a diet was characterized by a feeding index computed by combining
the occurrences, the numerical and volume percentages of the items identified in the stomach contents. The
study showed that this species has an herbivorous diet mainly composed of periphyton. The study did not
find any statistical differences in the diet related to the size of the specimens, the site and the hydrological
season. The dietary strategies developed by this species likely contribute to its coexistence with the other
Mochokidae species in Malebo Pool. The study thus provided relevant information regarding the feeding
ecology of suckermouth catfishes intrinsically associated with the Congo River, one of the most threatened
and biodiverse ecosystems of the Congo basin.
Research center :
AFFISH-RC - Applied and Fundamental FISH Research Center - ULiège
