Hidden otolith morphologies of the two teleost fishes Boops boops and Nemipterus randalli: A scanning electron microscopy study from Antalya Bay, Mediterranean Türkiye

Otoliths from Boops boops and Nemipterus randalli were collected in Antalya Bay, Türkiye, using bottom trawls (40–160 m depth). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed 21 morphological features, with 8 constants across life stages and 13 showing ontogenetic variation. Four variation types were identified: ontogenetic, interspecific, intraspecific, and sexual dimorphism. Comparison with otoliths from other regions showed notable intraspecific uniformity, confirming SEM-based analysis as a reliable tool for species identification. The study provides a SEM-based iconography for these species, supporting future taxonomic and ecological research. This work demonstrates SEM’s value in advancing otolith morphology for fisheries science, palaeontology, and ecological monitoring.