Food habits of the two-line eelpout (Bothrocara brunneum: Zoarcidae) at two deep-sea sites in the eastern North Pacific

Two-line eelpouts were collected from two deep-sea sites in the eastern North Pacific in order to study food habits. The diet of this species is low in diversity, consisting primarily of shrimp-like crustaceans and secondarily of small zoarcid fishes. Although significant differences in diet exist between the two study sites, it appears that two-line eelpouts have a narrow dietary breadth. Previous and concurrent surveys of the region indicate that there is a wide range of potential prey available to two-line eelpouts; however, the species appears to be using a narrow range of benthopelagic fauna, suggesting that it is capable of some degree of prey specialization.