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Sexual dimorphism in the sonic system and otolith morphology of Neobythites gilli (Ophidiiformes)
Author(s) -
Parmentier E.,
Boistel R.,
Bahri M. A.,
Plenevaux A.,
Schwarzhans W.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/jzo.12561
Subject(s) - sexual dimorphism , otolith , biology , intraspecific competition , zoology , sound (geography) , fish <actinopterygii> , morphology (biology) , evolutionary biology , acoustics , fishery , physics
Although males and females of many sound‐producing fish species may show differences at the level of the sonic apparatus, otoliths are usually species specific having intraspecific variation only if exposed to different environmental condition or in relation with the fish size. This study reports sexual dimorphism at the level of both otolith shape and sonic apparatus in the ophidiid Neobythites gilli . As it is the case in other Neobythites species, sound‐producing apparatus is better developed in males. Due to their way of life in darker or deep waters, differences at the level of the sound‐producing apparatus support more constraints related to acoustic communication for sex recognition or mate localization. Otolith modifications concern only Neobythites male specimens, whereas otolith of females are virtually unchanged when compared to sister species without sexual dimorphism, meaning this feature would not be related to sexually induced differences in calling. Differences between the otoliths of males and females could therefore be related to their way of life.