Comparative body and otolith morphometrics of Mugilidae in Homa Lagoon (Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea)

Abstract

       Every species otoliths and body forms have characteristic shape and features. Because of that otoliths and body morphometrics are widely used in the systematic researches of the Teleost fishes. In the Homa Lagoon (Izmir Bay), of 5 members of the family Mugilidae, otolith characteristics are valued by using the Discriminant Analysis and it is found that the greatest similarity is observed among Liza aurata, Liza ramada and Chelon labrosus. The different groups are Mugil cephalus and Liza saliens. Body characteristics showed that L. saliens, L. aurata are the similar while C. labrosus and M. cephalus are different. Although the otoliths and body morphometrics of the family Mugilidae are in general similar ones, it is possible to distinguish the species according to the special body and otolith morphologies.