Differentiation of three species of the genus Upeneus (Mullidae) based on otolith shape analysis

A comparative analysis of otolith shapes reveals distinct differences among three species of the genus Upeneus (U. tragula, U. margarethae, and U. sundaicus) found in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. The study used morphological parameters such as length, width, perimeter, and area, along with shape indices like form factor, roundness, and ellipticity, to differentiate the species. Elliptic Fourier analysis and multivariate statistics further confirmed that U. sundaicus is distinct from U. tragula and U. margarethae, while the latter two are closely related. This research provides a novel approach for species differentiation using otolith morphology, offering valuable insights into the taxonomy of this fish genus.

Pavlov, D. A. (2016). Differentiation of three species of the genus Upeneus (Mullidae) based on otolith shape analysis. Journal of Ichthyology, 56(1), 37–51. https://doi.org/10.1134/s0032945216010094