Insights of Otoliths Morphology to Reveal Patterns of Teleostean Fishes in the Southern Atlantic

The sagitta otoliths of teleostean fishes are usually used in diverse studies. Their shapes species-specific, and the qualitative description their morphological features seems to be a simple task, despite its subjectivity. On other hand, morphometric techniques have been developed with focus on objectivity, reproducibility, accuracy. Considering this, morphology was reviewed evaluated terms robustness as taxonomic tool highlight ecomorphological patterns. 179 from Southern Atlantic were analyzed. For each species, fish total length range, eighteen otolith (OMFs), relative proportions annotated. Species habitat habit also recorded. Data analyses based exploratory analysis, correlation, nonmetric multidimensional scaling, two-way permutational analysis variance. most descriptive OMFs were: colliculum, sulcus acusticus (morphology, position, orientation, opening), profile. significantly related species habit, new pattern described for deep-ocean pelagic species. In conclusion, is robust whenever it comparative method application (otoliths among otoliths), considering constant updates fishes’ taxonomy use proper sample sizes linked techniques.