Otolith morphology and biometry of Beryx splendens and Hoplostethus occidentalis (Beryciformes) in the Southwestern Atlantic

Abstract

Beryx splendens and Hoplostethus occidentalis are common species distributed along the shelf break and upper slope of Southeastern and Southern Brazil. In this area, B. splendens and H. occidentalis were important species in survey catches. Beryx splendens has been landed in commercial catches and it is an important prey for other fish species. In this study, the morphological features of B. splendens and H. occidentalis otoliths are described, including shape indices and regression analyses. Ontogenetic changes in otoliths were also analyzed and the results are presented and discussed.