Juma Mohamed Al-Mamry, Laith Jawad, And Aisha Ambuali

Fluctuating asymmetry in the otolith length and width of adult Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1817) collected from Muscat waters at the Sea of Oman

Abstract Fluctuating asymmetry was calculated for the otolith width and length of adult teleost Rastrelliger kanagurta. The results showed that the level of asymmetry of the otolith length was the highest among the two asymmetry values obtained for the otolith of R. kanagurta. The results also showed that the level of asymmetry in the two characters studied at its highest and lowest values in fish ranging in length between 311-320 and mm and 261-270 mm, respectively. The value of asymmetry was zero in the fish length ranging from 221-260 mm for both characters. The possible cause of the asymmetry in this species has been discussed in relation to different pollutants and their presence in the area. A trend of increase in the asymmetry values with the fish length was noticed for the otolith length and width.

Keywords:

Key words: asymmetry, otolith width otolith length, Rastrelliger kanagurta, Oman Sea,

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