Abstract
AbstractOtoliths from four species of scorpaenids–Helicolenus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809), Scorpaena elongata Cadenat, 1943, Scorpaena notata Rafinesque, 1810, and Scorpaena scrofa Linnaeus, 1758–were collected from Antalya Bay along the Mediterranean coast of Türkiye. The fish were captured using a commercial bottom trawl net with a mesh size of 44 mm (22 mm in the cod end). The fishing grounds varied in depth from 40 to 160 meters. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were utilized to analyse the otoliths’ characteristics. Twenty‐one distinct features were defined to describe their shapes. Among these, 8 characteristics were consistent across both juvenile and adult otoliths, while 13 features exhibited developmental variation. The results reveal four types of variations: ontogenetic, interspecific, intraspecific, and sexual dimorphism. A comparison with previously documented otoliths of these species from different regions indicates a uniformity intraspecifically across extensive geographic ranges, suggesting that these characteristics are valuable for identification purposes. The diagnostic features of the otoliths can aid in confirming species identity. Additionally, a SEM‐based iconography of the otoliths for all studied species is provided.
Published Version
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