On 4 August 2025, BMC Zoology published an important scientific article on the size composition of Atherina boyeri in the diet of the Caspian seal (Pusa caspica), which is an endangered species.
Atherina is a euryhaline pelagic fish widely distributed throughout the Caspian Sea and is one of the main food sources for Caspian seals. Studies have shown that Caspian seals feed on fish ranging in length from 23.1 to 117.1 mm. At the same time, seals in the northern Caspian Sea most often feed on sand eels 60–70 mm long, while those in the central Caspian Sea feed on fish 80–90 mm long.
This scientific work is important for understanding the food preferences of Caspian seals. Further research is planned on other fish species that are part of the Caspian seal's diet. The full text of the article is available at: https://rdcu.be/ezhZP.