Otolith Morphology: A Hidden Tool in the Taxonomic Study of Goatfishes (Teleostei: Perciformes: Mullidae).

ABSTRACT: Goatfishes (Teleostei, Mullidae) are a group of mainly coastal fishes that form an important part of food chains, and also have commercial value. In the marine waters of Iran, they are found in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea (Gulf of Oman). This study evaluated whether otolith morphology can be used to distinguish of species and genera, and also to interpret whether otoliths of the same species differ among two studied marine systems. To do this objective, the otolith morphology of ten species belonging to three genera were analyzed by SEM photography and shape analysis. Among the morphometric variables, relative rostrum length was found to be the most important otolith variable for discriminating Mulloidichthys (RRL = 32.29 ± 0.59) and Parupeneus (RRL = 37.39 ± 1.10), while r

SUBMITTER: Echreshavi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8662316 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature