Work

Investigation of asymmetry in the Sagitta of the bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the marine waters of Iraq

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In this study, 76 specimens of Platycephalus indicus collected from the coasts of Iraq were examined, assessing the asymmetric square coefficient of variation (CV2a) among three features: the length, width, and weight of the otolith from both sides of the fish head. In the statistical analysis, the squared coefficient of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) deviation (CV2a) for the three sagitta features based on Valentine et al. (1973) formula was used to assess the values of FA in the three otolith features examined. The feasible source of the FA in the sagitta features considered has been resolved relative to the discrepancy in growing driven by environmental influence accompanying with the incongruence in water temperature, salinity, depth and impurities occurring in the coasts of Iraq. The application of bilateral irregularities in otolith parameters of P. indicus was discussed. Future studies will incorporate the collection of otoliths FA data from additional species in the marine waters of Iraq eventually improving the consistency and exactness of niches stress estimations in this marine waters.

Source: Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

DOI: 10.26881/oahs-2025.1.21

Authors: Audai M. Qasim, Faleh M. Al-Zaidy, Baradi Waryani, Laith A. Jawad

Institutions: University of Basrah, University of Sindh, Al-Ayen Iraqi University

Language: English

Topic: Morphological variations and asymmetry

Subfield: Geometry and Topology

Field: Mathematics

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: University of Basrah