3D meshes dataset of sagittal otoliths from red mullet in the Mediterranean Sea

• Published in: Scientific data 2024-07, Vol.11 (1), p.813-7, Article 813
• Main Authors: Andrialovanirina, Nicolas, Poloni, Lauriane, Laffont, Rémi, Poisson Caillault, Émilie, Couette, Sébastien, Mahé, Kélig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/158/1745; 631/1647; Age composition; Age determination; Animals; Asymmetry; Biodiversity and Ecology; Connectivity; Data Descriptor; Datasets; Ears & hearing; Environmental Sciences; Female; Fish; Fisheries management; Fishing; Genetic variability; Geography; Humanities and Social Sciences; Male; Mediterranean Sea; Morphology; multidisciplinary; Otolithic Membrane; Otolithic Membrane - anatomy & histology; Otoliths; Population structure; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sexual maturity; Smegmamorpha; Smegmamorpha - anatomy & histology; Sustainable fisheries; X-rays
• ISSN: 2052-4463; 2052-4463
• DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03641-1

This paper presents a dataset of 3D sagittal left otolith meshes from 339 individual red mullet ( Mullus barbatus ). These immature specimens were collected from 17 geographical areas covering the entire Mediterranean Sea. Measured biological parameters were: fish total length (TL ± 1 mm, range from 125 to 238 mm), total weight (W ± 0.1 g, range from 14.9 to 168.0 g), sex (S), sexual maturity staging (Mat). The 3D otolith dataset comprises high-resolution meshes of otoliths obtained using microtomography (29.2 μm voxel size). The data offer valuable insights into the morphological variability and population structure of red mullet populations in the Mediterranean Sea. Potential applications of the dataset include age determination, stock identification, and population connectivity analysis. These applications aim to enhance the understanding of red mullet populations and contribute to the sustainable management of marine resources in the Mediterranean Sea.