Since E. Koken in 1884 observed that each species of Teleostean fish is characterised by having otoliths with particular characteristics (shape and size), otolith morphology has been studied in order to identify species and fauna fossils, study the diets of ictiovorous species from stomach contents as well as being used in archaeological studies. Otolith sagittae are also used to identify intraspecific (determining populations in a species) and interspecific (establishing affinities and differences between species) relations.



Moreover, otolith growth is closely related to the fish's growth and the environmental changes in the fish's habitat. The variation in the proportions of the components that make up the otolith causes the growth rings to form, following a daily and seasonal periodicity. This characteristic is used to determine the age of fish and is very useful in studies on growth, recruitment and mortality, which are necessary for learning about population dynamics. Other current studies focus on the chemical composition and the microstructures of otoliths and their relationship to the environment.