Age structure and body size of the eastern spadefoot toad pelobates syriacus boettger, 1889 (Anura: Pelobatidae) from Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

Abstract

This is the first study to report the average age of adulthood and sexual maturity in individuals of Pelobates syriacus Boettger, 1889 from Afyon, Turkey. the age of male and female individuals was found to vary between 3-6 years, wherein 6 years was the maximum age in both sexes. the mean age of males and females was 4.54 +/- 0.82 years and 4.37 +/- 0.92 years, respectively, and their age of sexual maturity ranged between two and three years. No significant difference was observed between sexes regarding age and snout-vent length (SVL). the survival rate (Sr) and life expectancy (ESP) were calculated to be 0.62 and 3.13 in males and 0.61 and 3.06 in females, respectively. the maximum SVL was 70.84 mm (ranging from 54.84 to 70.84 mm) in males and 69.76 mm (ranging from 57.00 to 69.76 mm) in females. Additionally, there was no significant difference in SVL between both sexes, but the mean value of SVL in males was larger than that of females. According to Spearman's Correlation Coefficient, no significant correlation was found between age and SVL in both males and females.