Fish Otolith
31-03-2024
1 min read
Overview:
Ornaments from fish otoliths have made a market debut, which are crafted by a group of enthusiastic fisherwomen in Vizhinjam, trained by scientists from Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
About Fish Otolith
- Otoliths are biomineralised ear stones that help fish hear and provide it a sense of balance
- These are important in fish studies as they have species-specific shapes and grow throughout their life.
- They are commonly known as "earstones," are hard, calcium carbonate structures located directly behind the brain of bony fishes.
- There are three types of otoliths, all of which aid fish in balance and hearing:
- Sagitta: The largest of the 3 pairs of otoliths, sagitta is involved in the detection of sound and the process of hearing, or converting sound waves into electrical signals.
- Asteriscus: This type of otolith is involved in the detection of sound and the process of hearing.
- Lapillus: This type of otolith is involved in the detection of gravitational force and sound.
- Different species have otoliths of different shapes and sizes; and cartilaginous fishes, such as sharks, skates, and rays, have none.
Significance
- These otoliths can be used to identify the species, size, age, growth rate, and season of death of an individual fish.
- Analysis of the oxygen isotope values of fish otoliths can provide information on the temperature of the water in which the fish lived.
Q1: What is Biomineralization?
It is the process by which living organism manufactures minerals for different functional purposes, such as mechanical stiffening of tissue, magnetic or gravitational sensing, and element storage.
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