Clarifying species identity in Aphanopus using wavelet-based otolith shape analysis.

ABSTRACT: Accurate species identification is crucial for effective fisheries management, particularly for cryptic species with overlapping ranges and similar morphologies. This study explores the coexistence and distribution of Aphanopus carbo and Aphanopus intermedius in the northeastern Atlantic over four decades using otolith contour analysis. Otolith samples were collected from Madeira and the African coast between 1990 and 2021 and analyzed using a wavelet-based method, which improves species discrimination by capturing finer morphological details. The analysis revealed stable species proportions over time, with A. carbo generally dominating the catches ([Formula: see text]55-60%), except in 2010 when a decline was observed. A higher presence of A. intermedius in offshore areas may be associate

SUBMITTER: Vasconcelos J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12176198 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature