Otolith biometry of shortnose greeneye (Chlorophthalmus Agassizi) inhabiting Northeastern Mediterranean

In this study, the relationships between total length and weight of fish with otolith dimensions of 180 Shortnose Greeneye (Chlorophthalmus agassizi) caught from the coast of Iskenderun Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean) were examined. Shortnose greeneye were caught by a commercial trawler from Iskenderun Bay, at depths of 300-350 m. Minimum and maximum length and weight of shortnose greeneye were determined as 7.10-17.5 cm and 2.04-44.64 g respectively for all individuals. The average values for the right and left otoliths of Chlorophthalmus agassizi were determined as 3.9693 and 3.9012 mm in otolith lengths, 1.6836 and 1.6784 mm in otolith widths and 0.005557-0.005299 g in otolith weights, respectively. The relationships between total fish length and otolith length and otolith width, and between total fish length and otolith weight were found to be positive and moderate. The difference between the lengths, widths and weights of otoliths taken from the right and left sides of the fish was found to be statistically insignificant (P>0.05). This study makes a significant contribution to the literature on the biological characteristics of shortnose greeneye in the Northeastern Mediterranean.