Age structure in two populations of Triturus vittatus ophryticus at different altitudes

Abstract:

We investigated age structure by skeletochronology in two breeding populations of Triturus vittatus ophryticus inhabiting altitudes ranging from 300 m (in Gurbulak) to 1300 m (in Hidirnebi) in northeastern Turkey. The mean age was 4 years (maximum 10) in Gurbulak population and 8 (maximum 16) in Hidirnebi population. In the lowland population, minimum age at maturation was two to three years while it was four years in the highland population. The mean snout-vent length of the populations was significantly different and we found no correlation between age and snout-vent length except for females of Gurbulak. Sexual dimorphism in body size and weight was detected in both populations.