Five-bearded rockling
Otolith description
The shape of the otolith is lanceolate. The sulcus is well developed and open at both sides. The ostium and cauda are both wedge shaped and the sulcus is parted between the ostium and cauda. Ostium and cauda are similarly shaped. The surface of the inside is irregular, while the outside and margins are smooth. The rostrum is well developed and pointed. The antirostrum is small and pointed and can be indistinct in some specimens. The posterior margin is pointed. The inside of the otolith is convex and the outside concave. The dorsal margin is rounded, while the ventral margin is straight or concave. The otolith is thin and small and bear no resemblance to otoliths of other gadidae. Otoliths of rocklings do not exceed 5 mm in length.
Otoliths of five-bearded rockling are hard to distinguish from four-bearded rockling Enchelyopus cimbrius, particularly when eroded. The otolith length-width ratio is much bigger in five bearded rockling, even with the rostrum missing. Otoliths of five-bearded rockling tend to be more concave at the outside. The rostrum of four-bearded rockling otoliths is less distinct and more rounded.
When eroded the ostium and cauda remain visible. The inside and margins are smoothed. Rockling otoliths are fragile and are often broken after passing through the digestive tract of an animal.
On otoliths of juvenile five-bearded rockling the sulcus is hardly visible. The rostrum and posterior end are round instead of pointed.
Fish length and distribution
Five-bearded rockling can grow up to 25 cm. Five-bearded rockling is (CILIMUST.TIF) found in the intertidal zone and nearshore waters between rocks, but also on muddy, sandy and gravel bottoms. It spawns in winter and early spring in deeper waters (Wheeler, 1978, Nijssen and De Groot, 1987, Witte et al., 1991, Knijn et al., 1993, Muus et al., 1999).
Five-bearded rockling is found along the coast of the NE Atlantic and North Sea.
Sample origin
Fyke.