Relationships between otolith size and fish size in some mesopelagic and bathypelagic species from the Mediterranean Sea (Strait of Messina, Italy)

Authors

  • Pietro Battaglia ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research), Laboratory of Milazzo
  • Danilo Malara ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research), Laboratory of Milazzo
  • Teresa Romeo ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research), Laboratory of Milazzo
  • Franco Andaloro ISPRA, Palermo, c/o Residence Marbela

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2010.74n3605

Keywords:

mesopelagic fishes, bathypelagic fishes, otolith, fish-otolith sizes, length-weight relationship, Mediterranean Sea

Abstract


The length-weight relationships and the regressions between otolith size (length and width) and fish length of some mesopelagic and bathypelagic fishes living in the central Mediterranean Sea were provided. Images and morphological description of otoliths (sagittae) from 16 species belonging to the families of Gonostomatidae (1), Microstomatidae (2), Myctophidae (8), Phosichthyidae (2), Sternoptychidae (2) and Stomiidae (1) were given. The length-weight relationship showed an isometric growth in 13 species. No differences between right and left otolith sizes were detected by t-test, so a single linear regression was plotted against standard length (SL) for otolith length (OL) and otolith width (OW). Data fitted well to the regression model for both OL and OW to SL, for each species (R2 > 0.8). These relationships offer a helpful tool in feeding studies and also provide support to palaeontologists in their research on fish fossils.

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2010-09-30

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Battaglia P, Malara D, Romeo T, Andaloro F. Relationships between otolith size and fish size in some mesopelagic and bathypelagic species from the Mediterranean Sea (Strait of Messina, Italy). Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2010Sep.30 [cited 2024Mar.29];74(3):605-12. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1188

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