MORPHOLOGY AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF SACCULAR OTOLITHS FROM 5 SPECIES OF THE GENUS COELORINCHUS (GADIFORMES, MACROURIDAE) FROM THE SOUTHEAST ATLANTIC

The morphology of the saccular otolith (sagitta) of five species of th e genus Coelorinchus (grenadiers) from the southeastern Atlantic (C. c oelorinchus, C. fasciatus, C. occa, C. braueri, and C. acanthiger) was analyzed macro- and ultrastructurally by digital image processing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Interspecies variations have been noted in the morphology and ultrastructure of the sulcus acusticus an d are linked to differences in form of the entire otolith. This relati onship may indicate a genetic regulation in the growth of the sulcus. Standard canonical analysis of biometric measurements of the otolith a nd acoustic sulcus has proved to be a good way to distinguish otoliths of the five species of Coelorinchus. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.