FISH
OTOLITH - ECONOMY
News: Fish otolith ornaments make market
debut
What's
in the news?
●
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).
Fish
Otolith:
●
Otoliths are biomineralized 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.
Types
of Otoliths:
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.
Go
back to basics:
Biomineralization:
●
It is the process by which living organism manufacture minerals for
different functional purposes, such as mechanical stiffening of tissue,
magnetic or gravitational sensing, and element storage.