Ecomorphological relations of sympatric juveniles of Clupeiformes from a Brazilian sandy beach

ABSTRACT Surf zones are important for early life stages of several fish species presenting characteristics such as high phytoplanktonic production, diverse food availability and shelter against predators. The action waves in this environment provides nutrient cycling increase the turbidity making surf ideal nursery environments fish, including clupeiforms. Clupeiform have a great ecological economic value being abundant tropical sandy beaches with significant fisheries importance. Studies about their feeding ecology use relevant, one methods improving knowledge is application ecomorphological analyses, which helps understanding interactions adaptations. In context, present study aimed to identify relations infer eight sympatric clupeiform Brazilian beach. Ten variables were analyzed individuals belonging Anchoa tricolor (Spix & Agassiz, 1829), januaria (Steindachner, 1879), Anchovia clupeoides (Swainson, 1839), Anchoviella lepidentostole (Fowler, 1911), Lycengraulis grossidens Chirocentrodon bleekerianus (Poey, 1867), Harengula clupeola (Cuvier, 1829) Opisthonema oglinum (Lesueur, 1818), whose values employed principal component analysis (PCA) two first axis explaining 58.92% total variance. A morphological overlap between Engraulidae was observed exception A. clupeoides, differed from others higher compression index caudal peduncle index. Clupeidae other families due relative height head length also showed differences themselves, having H. presented highest these variables. representative Pristigasteridae an intermediate because its highly compressed body but low scores height, mouth aspect ratio. differentiation even same family indicates niche divergences, showing that besides phylogenetical proximity there possibly contribute coexistence.