Summary Sagittal otoliths from the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions of Serranus cabrilla L. were compared using shape indices (form‐factor, roundness, circularity, rectangularity, ellipticity and eccentricity). Regional differences were best described by form‐factor, circularity and eccentricity variables. The canonical discriminant functions were built with form‐factor or rectangularity indices. The results indicated slight regional variations. The G‐test was the criterion more useful to identify the otolith origin in the discriminant analysis.

Variations in the morphology of saccular otoliths (sagittae) among three sympatric species of the genus Serranus (S. atricauda, S. cabrilla and S. scriba) from the Canary Islands were investigated. Although the otolith gross morphology was similar among species, S. scriba was distinct in having a rostrum which had a slight turning at the tip and a more funnel-like ostium. The shallower water species (S. scriba) had otolith and sulcus areas which were smaller than the deeper water species (S. cabrilla and S. atricauda). The sulcus acusticus and ostium size were correlated with the habit depth of the species, with the highest values in the deepest species, S. cabrilla. The otolith outline shape indices changed with size (total length) of the species, and allowed the separation of the species by means of a discriminate function.

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