Sains Malaysiana 45(5)(2016): 735–743

The Use of Otolith Morphometrics in Determining the Size and Species Identification of Eight Mullets (Mugiliformes: Mugilidae) from Malaysia

(Kegunaan Otolit Morfometrik untuk Menentukan Saiz dan Pengenalpastian Spesies bagi Lapan Belanak (Mugiliformes: Mugilidae) dari Malaysia)

MORWENNA SEE¹, SARA MARSHAM², CHIH WEI CHANG^3,4, VING CHING CHONG^5,6, A. SASEKUMAR⁵,  SARINDER KAUR DHILLON⁶ & KAR HOE LOH⁶*

¹School of Marine Science & Technology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Ridley Building, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom

²Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Marine Science & Technology, Cullercoats, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE30 4PZ, United Kingdom

³National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Taiwan ROC

⁴Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Donghwa University,

Taiwan ROC

⁵Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

⁶Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, C308, Institute of Postgraduate Studies Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 17 March 2015/Accepted: 18 November 2015

ABSTRACT

Sagittal otolith morphometric measurements from Malaysian Mugilidae species were selected to investigate their possible role in species identification, due to the Mugilidae species’ morphological similarities, and age determination. Fish standard length (cm), otolith length (μm), width (μm) and mass (g) measurements were taken from eight species: Chelon macrolepis, C. melinopterus, C. subviridis, Ellochelon vaigiensis, Moolgarda cunnesius, M. seheli, Mugil cephalus and Valamugil engeli. Otolith aspect ratio, OAS (otolith length divided by width), was calculated and compared between species. The four homogenous groups based on their OAS were C. melinopterus (mean=1.65) and V. engeli (1.66) and M. cunnesius (1.89) and E. vaigiensis (1.89); M. seheli (2.08), C. macrolepis (2.14) and M. cephalus (2.17); and the latter two with C. subviridis (2.43). The relationships between fish standard length and otolith length/mass showed positive correlations for both, with otolith length providing the stronger correlation (rs = 0.897, P < 0.001) than otolith mass (rs = 0.795, P < 0.001). It is concluded that the more morphologically similar species have similar otolith aspect ratios, related to head shape; however, otolith shape is also affected by a variety of other environmental factors that have to be taken account of.

Keywords: Mugilidae; otolith; sagittal; taxonomy

ABSTRAK

Ukuran morfometri sagital otolit daripada spesies Mugilidae Malaysia telah dipilih untuk kajian kemungkinan peranannya dalam penentuan spesies yang disebabkan oleh persamaan morfologi spesies Mugilidae dan penentuan umur. Pengukuran piawaian panjang ikan (cm), panjang otolit (μm), lebar (μm) dan berat (g) telah diambil daripada lapan spesies: Chelon macrolepis, C. melanopterus, C. subviridis, Ellochelon vaigiensis, Moolgarda cunnesius, M. seheli, Mugil cephalus dan Valamugil engeli. Nisbah aspek otolit, OAS (panjang otolit dibahagikan dengan lebar), dikira dan dibandingkan antara spesies. Empat kumpulan homogen berdasarkan OAS mereka adalah C. melanopterus (min = 1.65) dan V. engeli (1.66) dan M. cunnesius (1.89) dan E. vaigiensis (1.89); M. seheli (2.08), C. macrolepis (2.14) dan M. cephalus (2.17); dan kedua-dua akhir dengan C. subviridis (2.43). Hubungan antara piawaian panjang ikan dan panjang otolit/berat menunjukkan korelasi positif bagi kedua-duanya, dengan panjang otolit memberikan hubungan yang lebih kukuh (rs = 0.897, P <0.001) berbanding berat otolit (rs = 0,795, P <0.001). Dirumuskan bahawa lebih morfologi spesies yang serupa mempunyai nisbah aspek otolit yang sama, yang berkaitan dengan bentuk kepala; namun, bentuk otolit juga dipengaruhi oleh pelbagai faktor persekitaran lain yang perlu diambil kira.

Kata kunci: Mugilidae; otolit; sagital; taksonomi

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*Corresponding author; email: khloh@um.edu.my