The Herpetological Journal

pp. 167-173
Authors: Miaud, Claude; Ūzüm, Nazan; Avci, Aziz & Olgun, Kurtulus

Abstract: We estimated the age, size and growth patterns of a mountain ranid, Rana holtzi, from Central Anatolia, using skeletochronology. We used lines of arrested growth (LAGs) recorded in phalanges to estimate the age of juveniles and adults. Results showed that age at maturity in this population was 4–5 years (median age of juveniles was 3.5 yrs and minimum age for adults was 4.0 yrs for both sexes). Median ages of males and females were similar (6 yrs) and longevity reached 8.0 yrs for males and 10.5 yrs for females. Mean body and tibia length of males was significantly larger than that of females. Growth of the Anatolian mountain frog was well described by the von Bertalanffy model, and males and females did not differ in growth parameters. These demographic parameters are compared with those obtained with other amphibians, especially ranids. The sexual size dimorphism observed – larger males than females – has rarely been observed previously and should prompt observers to collect other biological information on this rare endemic species.

Keywords: SKELETOCHRONOLOGY, SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM, AMPHIBIAN, LIFE-HISTORY TRAIT