Morphometric variation of Periophthalmus waltoni (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

Abstract

154 specimens of Periophthalmus waltoni distributed in seven different sites in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman are analysed, utilizing ten morphometric characters. Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) of the sampling sites suggested a partial separation between the north-western sites and the central plus south-eastern sites. The main factor to connect P. waltoni specimens from different sites and keep them similar, morphologically and probably genetically, could be moving their larvae. It could be deduced that environmental factors are the main reason to discriminate between P. waltoni specimens from different stations.

Keywords

• gulf of oman
• morphometric variables
• mudskippers
• persian gulf