Ovalipes catharus: Difference between revisions

The diet of paddle crabs consists predominantly of [[Mollusca|molluscs]] (especially of genus ''[[Paphies]]''), [[crustacean]]s, [[fish]]es, [[Polychaete|bristle worms]], and [[algae]].{{sfn|Wear|Haddon|1987|p=41}}{{sfn|Fisheries New Zealand|2023|p=1038}}{{sfn|Davidson|1987|p=29}} Large ''Ovalipes catharus'' tend to feed less frequently but– generally on algae as well as on larger animals such as [[decapod]]s and [[teleost]]s, – while smaller ones prey frequently on smaller, softer crustaceans such as [[amphipod]]s, [[isopod]]s, [[mysid]]s, and [[cumacean]]s.{{sfn|Osborne|1987|p=118}} They frequently cannibalise smaller [[conspecific]]s and those that have recently moulted during winter.{{sfn|Wear|Haddon|1987|p=47–48}}{{sfn|Osborne|1987|p=81}} They tend to eat more during the summer than during the winter.{{sfn|Haddon|Wear|1987|p=63}}{{sfn|Fenton|Salmond|Foreman|Curtis|2024|p=92–93}}