Stomach Contents of Adult Starry Flounder and Sand Sole in East Sound, Orcas Island, Washington

Abstract

Starry flounder fed mainly on priapulids, nemerteans, polychaetes, and lamellibranchs. Sand sole fed on fish, mysids, shrimp, and squid. Both species appeared to be daytime feeders.Starry flounder ceased feeding during the months of lowest water temperature. This indicates that the local commercial fishery for starry flounder takes fish when they are in poor physical condition. Sand sole showed little reduction in feeding during the cold-water months.The stomach of the starry flounder appeared to be used primarily as a holding organ and was emptied in about 9 hr. The sand sole stomach was used for digestion, which, for forage fish, took longer than 24 hr to complete.