Sagittal otolith morphometric measurements from Malaysian Mugilidae species were selected to investigate their possible
role in species identification, due to the Mugilidae species’ morphological similarities, and age determination. Fish
standard length (cm), otolith length (μm), width (μm) and mass (g) measurements were taken from eight species: Chelon
macrolepis, C. melinopterus, C. subviridis, Ellochelon vaigiensis, Moolgarda cunnesius, M. seheli, Mugil cephalus and
Valamugil engeli. Otolith aspect ratio, OAS (otolith length divided by width), was calculated and compared between
species. The four homogenous groups based on their OAS were C. melinopterus (mean=1.65) and V. engeli (1.66) and M.
cunnesius (1.89) and E. vaigiensis (1.89); M. seheli (2.08), C. macrolepis (2.14) and M. cephalus (2.17); and the latter
two with C. subviridis (2.43). The relationships between fish standard length and otolith length/mass showed positive
correlations for both, with otolith length providing the stronger correlation (rs
= 0.897, P < 0.001) than otolith mass (rs
= 0.795, P < 0.001). It is concluded that the more morphologically similar species have similar otolith aspect ratios,
related to head shape; however, otolith shape is also affected by a variety of other environmental factors that have to
be taken account of