The British Herpetological Society

The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.

 ISSN 0268-0130

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pdf 07. Age and body size of the toad Bombina maxima in a subtropical high-altitude population

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pp. 229-232
Authors: Huang, Yan; Zhu, Hong Qing; Liao, Yong Mei; Jin, Long & Liao, Wen Bo

Abstract: We used skeletochronology to determine age and body size of large-webbed bell toads (Bombina maxima) from a subtropical, high-altitude population in southwestern China. Mean age did not differ between the sexes. Minimum age at sexual maturity was two years for both sexes, and maximum longevity was six years for males and five years for females. Males were larger than females, also when accounting for the effect of age. A significant relationship between age and body size was only found for males. Sex showed no interaction with age, and age-size relationships did not differ between the sexes. These results suggest that longevity is an important factor accounting for differences in body size between the sexes.

Keywords: AGE-SIZE RELATIONSHIP, SKELETOCHRONOLOGY, LONGEVITY, CHINA, AGE STRUCTURE

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IMPORTANT NOTE - JUNE 2020

Please note that as from Volume 31 Number 1 (January 2021) on, the Herpetological Journal will be available as an online publication only - the last print edition will be Volume 30 Number 4.   

Aligning with this change, it is now no longer possible to purchase a subscription that includes a print copy of the HJ.  All members who have existing HJ print subscriptions that remain active as at end June 2020 will receive the full four 2020 print editions.  New subscribers or renewals after this time will only have option to subscribe to the online only subscription package.  Subscription pricing has been amended to reflect the content changes.