Otolith phenotypic analysis of four endemic mullet species (Mugilidae) from Umm-Hufayn Lagoon, in the Cyrenaica coast, Libyan
Keywords:
Otolith morphology, Geometric morphometrics, Mullet species, Cyrenaica coast, Species identificationAbstract
This study investigated the morphological variation of otoliths (ear bones) in four mullet species (Mugil cephalus, M. aurata, M. ramada, and M. capito) from the Cyrenaica coast of Libya using geometric morphometric techniques. Otolith shape was analyzed using landmark-based geometric morphometrics, including principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant function analysis (DFA), and relative warp analysis (RWA). Results demonstrated significant differences in otolith shape among the four species, indicating that otolith morphology can be a reliable tool for species identification. The PCA revealed distinct clusters corresponding to each species, while DFA and RWA highlighted specific morphological features that differentiated the species. These findings contribute to a better understanding of mullet species diversity in the region and provide a valuable tool for fisheries management and conservation efforts.
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