Short communication
Asymmetry in some morphological characters of Leiognathus equulus (ForsskDl) (Leiognathidae) collected from the Sea of Oman
Juma Al-Mamry, Laith Jawad, Suad Al-Bimani, Faten Al-Ghafari, Dawood Al-Mamry, Mohamed Al-Marzouqi
ABSTRACT. Asymmetry analysis was conducted on four morphometric bilateral characters and one meristic character of Leiognathus equulus (ForsskDl) collected from the Sea of Oman at the city of Muscat. The results showed that the level of asymmetry of the characters of preorbital distance and head length is higher than that of the rest of the characters studied. Increasing asymmetry values with fish length were noted in preorbital and postorbital distances and head length. This might be the result of incomplete development. The possible cause of asymmetry in this species is discussed in relation to different pollutants and their presence in the area.
Keywords: bilateral asymmetry, bioindicator, Leiognathidae, common ponyfish
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
J. Al-Mamry, L. Jawad [+], D. Al-Mamry, M. Al-Marzouqi
Marine Science and Fisheries Centre
Ministry of Fisheries Wealth
Sultanate of Oman, P.O. Box 427, Postal Code 100 Muscat
e-mail: laith_jawad@hotmail.com
S. Al-Bimani, F. Al-Ghafari
High Technical College, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman