Body morphometric and otolith shape analyses of anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758)) in the Algerian basin

Abstract

        Body morphometric characteristics and otolith shape described by elliptic Fourier descriptors analyses were carried out on European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) samples collected from six locations in Algerian waters during the acoustic survey ALPEL2018 (south-western Mediterranean Sea, GFCM-GSA04). The discriminant analysis was applied over twelve morphometric body distances and 31 normalized elliptic Fourier descriptors. It highlighted significant difference between areas but with high overlapping. No significant difference was detected between males and females, or right and left otoliths. Hierarchical clustering analysis conducted on the mean form of body and otolith shape showed a clear geographical cline. The results indicate that the geographical trend is present with a high level of overlapping between the near areas, suggesting that European anchovies in Algerian waters are not completely isolated.