RELATIVE GROWTH IN THE INTERTIDAL AMPHIPOD Parhyale basransis ( SALMAN 1986 ) FROM GARMAT-ALI RIVER,BASRAH,IRAQ.

Amphipod Parhyale basrensis relative growth was studied . Specimens were collected from the intertidal zone of Garmat-Ali river, Basrah, Iraq. The first and second pairs gnathopods growth were analysed versus the total length . The log-untransformed regression was applied to explain the growth pattererns, whereas transition point techniques give very correct estimation of size at maturity. Significant differences were found between relative growth coefficients between mature and immature , males and females of each gnathopod pairs and between the first and second gnathopod.