Otolith dimensions-total length relationships of atlantic stargazer (Uranoscopus scaber linnaeus, 1758) captured from Northeastern Mediterranean

Otolith dimensions-total length relationships of Atlantic stargazer (Uranoscopus scaber Linnaeus, 1758) captured from northeastern Mediterranean Atlantic stargazer, Uranoscopus scaber is caught in large numbers by bottom trawl but has minor commercial value in Turkey. This study provides the first information on the otolith biometry-fish length relationships of U. scaber inhabiting Iskenderun Bay, northeastern Mediterranean Sea. Fish specimens were captured by commercial trawler at a depth of 80 to 100 m from the Iskenderun Bay (Hatay, Turkey) between May 2015 and June 2016. A total of 150 fish specimens (67 females and 83 males) were collected. Mean lengths were 17.21 cm in the all individuals, 18.67 cm in the females and 16.04 cm in the males; mean weights were 89.61 g in the whole population, 115.59 g in the females and 66.78 g in the males. The difference of the total length and weight between the female and male fishes was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The relationships among total length-otolith length and total length-otolith breadth and total length-otolit weight were as y=0.4173x+0,2048 (R2=8617), y=0,1923x+0,6715 (R2=7186), y=0.0102x+0,1045 (R2=7096), respectively. The relationships among body mass-otolith length and body mass-otolith breadth and body mass-otolith weight were as y=0.0211x+5,6323 (R2=8617), y=0,0098x+3,1177 (R2=6139), y=0.0005x+0,0237 (R2=6577), respectively. According to the regression analysis results, a moderate or strong positive relationships among the fish length and weight and otolith dimensions was determined. Key words: Otolith dimensions, Uranuscopus scaber, Atlantic stargazer, Iskenderun Bay, Northeastern Mediterranean