Age determination and sexual size dimorphism in three populations of Darevskia valentini (Boettger, 1892) from Turkey

Abstract

Age structure, body size and growth rate of Darevskia valentini inhabiting from different three localities were studied by skeletochronology. Age was determined by counting the lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in phalangeal cross-sections. A total of 73 museum specimens (24 specimens from Kayseri, 20 specimens from Van and 29 specimens from Sivas) were used for this study. The mean age of males in three populations was older than those of females. The mean age of males was found to be 4.33 ± 0.28 years in Van population, 5 ± 0.28 years in Kayseri population and 5.18 ± 0.35 years for Sivas population. The maximum lifespan in Sivas population was 7 years for both sexes whereas it was 6 years in Kayseri population and 5 years in Van population. In the three populations, ages at sexual maturity of females and males were 3 and 2 years, respectively. The sexual size dimorphism was female-biased in the three populations. The mean snout-vent length (SVL) for males was calculated as 64.30 ± 1.15 mm in Van population, 68.48 ± 1.43 mm in Sivas population and 66.96 ± 1.19 mm in Kayseri populations. The mean SVL for females was determined as 60.36 ± 1.04 mm in Van population, 64.50 ± 1.73 mm in Sivas population and 68.24 ± 0.85 mm in Kayseri population. © Biharean Biologist, Oradea, Romania, 2021.