Features and increments of otoliths in Engraulicypris sardella were
observed. The sagitta was arrowhead shaped with an obvious core and rostra, the
latter being fragile and easily destroyed by extracting and grinding processes.
Increments around the core were readable but not in rostra. The lapillus was
round fan-shaped with an obvious core. Increments in the lapillus were clearly
deposited from the core to the margin. The asteriscus had an ambiguous core that
led to difficulty in discerning the first increment and had fewer increments
than the lapilli. Thus, the lapillus is the most appropriate for reading otolith
increments.