Bilateral Asymmetry in Otolith Size of Pampus argenteus (Osteichthyes: Stromatidae) from Iraqi Marine Waters

Abstract Bilateral asymmetry is presumed to reveal the developmental variability of the fish in polluted aquatic environments. In these habitats, high-level asymmetry develops, and these fish expend more energy to balance their growth than fish that are not under an impact. A total of 121 specimens of Pampus argenteus were collected from Khor Abdulla located in the northwest part of the Arabian Gulf. The asymmetry of two otolith parameters of the marine fish species Pampus argenteus, length and width, was calculated. The results demonstrated that the level of asymmetry was highest for otolith width. The level of asymmetry in both otolith parameters was lowest in fish length ranging between 70-100 mm and the highest in fish ranging between 281-310 mm.