Author(s): Üzüm, N. & Olgun, K.
Title: Age and growth of the Southern Crested Newt, Triturus karelinii (Strauch, 1870), in a lowland population from northwest Turkey
Year: 2009
Volume: 55
Pages: 55-65.
Abstract: We estimated the age, size, and growth patterns of the Southern Crested Newt, Triturus karelinii, from northwest Anatolia using skeletochronology. Lines of arrested growth (LAGs) recorded in phalanges allowed us to estimate the age of juveniles and adults. Results showed that age at maturity in this population was 3 years. The average ages of the males and females in this population were calculated as 5.07±1.36 and 5.00±1.63 years, respectively. Males attained a maximum age of 9 years, whereas females attained a maximum age of 8 years. No significant differences were found between the age distributions of the two sexes. Mean body length of males was significantly smaller than that of females. Growth of the Southern Crested Newt was well described by the von Bertalanffy model, and males and females did not differ in growth parameters. These growth parameters were compared with those obtained from other amphibians, especially salamandrids.
Keywords: Turkey, skeletochronology, growth, age structure, Triturus karelinii
Journal: Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 1217-8837
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Bakonyi, G., Wei, C.-H., Mahunka, S., Horváth, Cs., Báldi, A., Yen, S.-H., Csuzdi, Cs., Nieukerken, E. J. van, Forró, L. & Wojtusiak, J.
