Morphological and morphometric changes of sagittae otoliths related to fish growth in three Mugilidae species

CALLICÓ FORTUNATO, R.; BENEDITO DURÀ, V.; GONZÁLEZ-CASTRO, M.; VOLPEDO, A.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY-ZEITSCHRIFT FUR ANGEWANDTE ICHTHYOLOGIE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2017 vol. 2017 p. 1 - 9

0175-8659

The aim of this study was to analyze morphologic and morphometric changes of sagittaeotoliths throughout the growth of three mullets: Mugil liza, Mugil cephalus and Lizaramada. Fish were collected seasonally between October 2011 and April 2014, andthree methods were used: regression analysis of traditional biometric characters; morphologicalanalysis for group identification; and morphometrical analysis of shape indicesamong groups (circularity, rectangularity, aspect ratio and percentage occupied bythe sulcus). In all species, dependence of standard length on otolith length and heightwere best described as power functions. Two morphological groups were identifiedfor M. liza and M. cephalus, while three for L. ramada. Morphological changes were supportedby morphometry differences only for the first two species. Smaller size specimensof M. liza had more rectangular otoliths with more percentage covered by thesulcus while bigger fish tended to have a more circular shape. For M. cephalus smallersize fish had a more elliptical shape. The observed changes may be reflecting life historychanges, related to habitat or dietary shifting.