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Morphometric analysis of otoliths of juvenile crucifix sea catfish S ciades proops ( V alenciennes, 1840)
Author(s) -
Freire K. M. F.,
Oliveira C. S.,
Rosa L. C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/jai.13321
Subject(s) - otolith , juvenile , biology , fishery , catfish , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , ecology
Summary The objective of this study was to analyze the morphometry of otoliths for Sciades proops juveniles by testing the hypothesis of equality in morphometric relationships for the right and left otoliths, which could then be interchangeably used to estimate fish size or weight. Samples were obtained monthly directly from anglers after each event that took place off the state of Sergipe from March/2014 to April/2015. Anglers used rod and reel during these events, with no restriction on hook size or line thickness. Each fish specimen sampled had their total weight (W, g) and total length ( TL , cm) measured and their lapillus otoliths removed and stored separately. Each otolith had its length ( OL ), width ( OW i), and thickness ( OT ) measured (all in mm) under a stereomicroscope. Otoliths were weighed using a precision scale ( OW , g). A total of 883 specimens were sampled: TL = 12.0–60.5 cm and W = 9.8–1880 g. The weight‐length relationship for the juvenile fishes was W = 0.0052 TL 3.086 and for their otoliths was OW = 0.0002 OL 3.177 . The weight‐length and length‐length relationships fitted for each otolith (right and left) were not statistically different and thus all relations were estimated for grouped otoliths. The length‐length relationships for the otoliths were: OW i = 0.947 OL −0.205 and OT = O.484 OL −0.698. The relationship estimated for juvenile fish and otolith weight was Wj = 1076.1 OW −9.120. For juvenile fish total length and otolith length, width and thickness, the following relationships were estimated: TL j = 4.028 OL −3.199, TL j = 4.208 OW i−2.091, and TL j = 7.824 OT + 3.659, respectively. Relationships between fish and otolith size, and between fish and otolith weight indicated a change in slope close to L m50 , which should be better explored when more adult specimens are available.