Description of the most important species of finfish and cephalopods in diet of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni Norman, 1937) (Perciformes, Nototheniidae), in the Amundsen Sea in 2006–2007

Feeding of Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni was studied in new fishing ground for this species in the Pacific sector of Antarctic: Amundsen Sea (Subarea 88.2). In terms of occurrence, the most important fish items in toothfish diet were: Whitson’s grenadier (Macrourus whitsoni), crocodile icefish (Chionobathyscus dewitti), antimora (Antimora rostrata), Antarctic jonasfish (Notolepis coatsi) and other species.
Cephalopod beaks were quite abundant in the stomachs of toothfish. These beaks were identified as belonging to large Antarctic squids: M.hamiltoni, P.glacialis ? K.longimana. Analysis of distribution and ecology of species prayed by Antarctic toothfish shows that D. mawsoni apparently represents a fast-swimming predator with wide feeding spectrum. Its diet includes bottom, bathy- and mesopelagic fishes as well as large squids.