Abstract Fluctuating asymmetry, small random deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry, is widely used as an indicator of developmental instability in response to environmental and genetic stress. We assessed fluctuating asymmetry in the forelimbs and hindlimbs of individuals of Tropidurus oreadicus Rodrigues, 1987 from control and mining-impacted areas in the Carajás region, southeastern Pará, Brazil, including different mining phases. Morphometric measurements of limb segments were used to estimate asymmetry while accounting for directional asymmetry and body size. We detected fluctuating asymmetry in all populations, regardless of mining impact. Although overall levels did not differ significantly between control and impacted areas, mean asymmetry values were higher in some areas, particularly in female hindlimbs from mining sites. These patterns may suggest differential sensitivity of distinct skeletal elements to anthropogenic impact. Males and females showed broadly similar asymmetry patterns, indicating comparable responses to environmental stress. Limb asymmetry may impair locomotor performance and escape efficiency, reducing survival. Our findings indicate that fluctuating asymmetry in T. oreadicus reflects the combined influence of natural and anthropogenic stressors. This study provides the first evidence of fluctuating asymmetry in a Neotropical lizard in a mining context and supports its use as a comparative metric for assessing developmental stability in ecologically and evolutionarily relevant frameworks.
Santos et al. (Fri,) studied this question.