Body Size and Age Structure of the Lebanon Lizard Phoenicolacerta laevis (Gray, 1838) (Reptilia: Lacertidae) in a Lowland Turkish Population


Bülbül U., Koc-Gur H., Albayrak M., Bayrak M. O., Ozkan H., Kutrup B.

ACTA ZOOLOGICA BULGARICA, vol.73, no.2, pp.225-231, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 73 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Journal Name: ACTA ZOOLOGICA BULGARICA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.225-231
  • Keywords: snout-vent length, skeletochronology, longevity, sexual size dimorphism, maturity age, LIFE-HISTORY TRAITS, GEOGRAPHIC-VARIATION, SQUAMATA LACERTIDAE, SEXUAL-DIMORPHISM, DIFFERENT ALTITUDES, WALL LIZARD, GROWTH, FROG, DAREVSKIA, RECORD
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Life-history traits (e.g. body size, sexual size dimorphism and age) of a Turkish population of the Lebanon lizard Phoenicolacerta laevis were studied using skcictochronology techniques. We measured phalangeal bones (n = 30). The mean snout-vent length (SVL) was slightly different between the sexes. We recorded weakly expressed sexual size dimorphism: the snout-vent-length of the males was slightly bigger (SDI = -0.01). Sexual maturity was attained between the second and the fourth year of life in both sexes. The age ranged from 3 to 11 years in females and from 3 to 12 years in males. The mean SVL was 65.33 +/- 3.06 mm in females and 66.59 +/- 3.76 mm in males. The mean age was 6.67 +/- 2.63 years in females and 6.47 +/- 2.75 years in males. There was no statistically significant difference in mean age between the sexes.