Comparison of morphometric characteristics of otolith for ten Clupeid species of the Persian Gulf

Morphometric comparison of sagitta otolith in 10 clupeid species of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea including Anodontostoma chacunda, Dussumieria acuta, Dussumieria elopsoides, Ilisha megaloptera, Ilisha melastoma, Nematolosa nasus, Sardinella gibbosa, Sardinella longiceps, Sardinella sindensis and Tenualosa ilisha), was conducted during 2007-2008. We found no significant differences in morphology and morphometry of the left and right otoliths except for A. chacunda and N. nasus. For the latter species the left sagitta otoliths were used. Investigation of otolith morphometric characteristics (length, breadth, weight, perimeter, area, and number of scallops) was also conducted which showed perimeter and number of scallops were the most effective individual otolith characteristics for distinguishing between species. The study indicated that sagitta otoliths have particular morphometric characteristics which are useful in identification of these species.