Data Sheet 1_Morphological position of the Lessepsian invader Etrumeus golanii in a southeastern Aegean small pelagic fish assemblage.docx

In this study, the body shape of E. golanii, Engraulis encrasicolus, and Sardina pilchardus was examined using 281 specimens collected from the same purse seine haul in the southeastern Aegean Sea. Twelve homologous landmarks were analysed using geometric morphometrics, and 25 truss distances were used to describe the anatomical basis of shape differences.

Model-adjusted body shape differences were detected among the three species in analyses including centroid size. The largest adjusted Procrustes distance was observed between E. golanii and E. encrasicolus, whereas E. encrasicolus and S. pilchardus were more similar in shape. Shape differences were distributed across several connected anatomical regions, including the head, body depth, posterior trunk, and caudal peduncle.