Age structure of the population of Anguis colchica orientalis (Reptilia, Anguidae) in the Talysh Mountains
https://doi.org/10.35885/1684-7318-2023-3-374-382
Abstract
The paper presents the results of studying the age and growth of the eastern slow worm (Anguis colchica orientalis) in the upper reaches of the Tangeru River (Astara district, Republic of Azerbaijan). Lizards (8 males and 6 females) were caught from March to August in 2011–2019. Their age was determined by the number of lines of arrested growth (LAG) on the cross sections of the tail vertebrae. Sections of the mandibular bone were also examined in three dead individuals. The number of LAG on the mandibular bone sections and the caudal vertebra coincided. The studied animals were aged from 1 to 10 years. The average age of males and females was 4.86 and 5.33 years, respectively. More than half of the males (5 individuals) were 4–5 years old, and a third of the females (2 individuals) were six years old. The life expectancy after the first wintering in females and males was 6.70 (S = 0.84) and 5.93 years (S = 0.82), respectively. It is noted that age determination by cross-sections of the tail vertebrae in slow worms is possible and allows conducting studies on live lizards.
About the Authors
A. A. Kidov
Russian State Agrarian University – Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
49 Timiryazevskaya St., Moscow 127550
A. A. Ivanov
Russian State Agrarian University – Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
49 Timiryazevskaya St., Moscow 127550
R. A. Ivolga
Russian State Agrarian University – Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
49 Timiryazevskaya St., Moscow 127550
T. E. Kondratova
Russian State Agrarian University – Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
49 Timiryazevskaya St., Moscow 127550
E. A. Kidova
Russian State Agrarian University – Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
49 Timiryazevskaya St., Moscow 127550
References
1. Kidov A. A., Khayrutdinov I. Z., Ivanov A. A., Kidova E. A. Age structure and growth of the spotted toadhead agama, Phrynocephalus guttatus (Reptilia, Sauria, Agamidae) in Terek sand massif (Eastern Ciscaucasia). University Proceedings. Volga Region. Natural Sciences, 2020, no. 3 (31), pp. 56–67 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.21685/2307-9150-2020-3-5
2. Kidov A. A., Ivanov A. A., Ivolga R. A., Kondratova T. E. Age structure and growth features of the Tajikistan toadhead agama Phrynocephalus sogdianus (Reptilia, Agamidae). Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS, 2023a, vol. 327, no. 2, pp. 226–233 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.31610/trudyzin/2023.327.2.226
3. Kidov A. A., Kondratova T. E., Ivolga R. A., Lyapkov S. M. Age structure, growth and reproduction of the two-streaked snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus bivittatus, Reptilia, Scincidae) in the Talysh Mountains (Ardabil province, Iran). Zoologicheskii zhurnal, 2023b, vol. 102, no. 6, pp. 681–687 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.31857/S0044513423060089
4. Klevezal G. A., Smirina E. M. Recording structures of terrestrial vertebrates. A sketch of history and the current state of investigations. Zoologicheskii zhurnal, 2016, vol. 95, no. 8, pp. 872– 896 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.7868/S0044513416080079
5. Kleinenberg S. Е., Smirina E. M. A contribution to the method of age determination in amphibians. Zoologicheskii zhurnal, 1969, vol. 48, no. 7, pp. 1090–1094 (in Russian).
6. Smirina E. M. Prospects of age determination by bone layers in reptilia. Zoologicheskii zhurnal, 1974, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 111–117 (in Russian).
7. Smirina E. M., Roitberg E. S. On investigations of the reptilian growth in the directions suggested by A. M. Sergeev. Zoologicheskii zhurnal, 2012, vol. 91, no. 11, pp. 1291–1301 (in Russian).
8. Altunışık A., Yildiz M. Z., Üçeş F., Bozkurt M. A., Sömer M. Altitude impacts body size but not age in the Asia Minor thin-toed gecko (Mediodactylus heterocercus). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2020, vol. 100, iss. 5, pp. 315–321. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2021-0197
9. Castanet J. Age estimation and longevity in Reptiles. Gerontology, 1994, vol. 40, iss. 2–4, pp. 174–192.
10. Castanet J., Smirina E. M. Introduction to the skeletochronological method in amphibians and reptiles. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie 13e Séries, 1990, vol. 11, pp. 191–196.
11. Comas M., Reguera S., Zamora-Camacho F. J., Salvado H. H., Moreno-Rueda G. Effectiveness of phalanx skeletochronology to estimate age in living reptiles. PeerJ, 2016, article number 4:e1809v1. https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1809v1
12. Dubey S., Sinsch U., Dehling M., Chevalley M., Shine R. Population demography of an endangered lizard, the Blue Mountains Water Skink. BMC Ecology, 2013, vol. 13, article number 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6785-13-4
13. Galoyan E., Sopilko N., Kovalyeva A., Chamkina A. Double-check in lizard age estimation: use of phalanx bone and keratin claw sheath lamellas. Research Square, 2022. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1888046/v1
14. Guarino F. M. Structure of the femora and autotomous (postpygal) caudal vertebrae in the three-toed skink Chalcides chalcides (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) and its applicability for age and growth rate determination. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 2010, vol. 248, no. 4, pp. 273–283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2009.11.001
15. Guarino F. M., Mezzasalma M., Odierna G. Usefulness of postpygal caudal vertebrae and osteoderms for skeletochronology in the limbless lizard Anguis veronensis Pollini, 1818 (Squamata: Sauria: Anguidae). Herpetozoa, 2016, vol. 29, no. 1/2, pp. 69–75.
16. Guarino F. M., Nocera F. D., Pollaro F., Galiero G., Iaccarino D., Iovino D., Mezzasalma M., Petraccioli A., Odierna G., Maio N. Skeletochronology, age at maturity and cause of mortality of loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta stranded along the beaches of Campania (south-western Italy, western Mediterranean Sea). Herpetozoa, 2020, vol. 33, pp. 39–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.33.e47543
17. International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals. Geneva, Switzerland, Council for International Organization of Medical Sciences Publ., 2012. 4 p.
18. Luiselli L., Capula M., Anibaldi C. Food habits of the slow worm, Anguis fragilis (L.), in two contrasting alpine environments. Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France, 1994, vol. 71/72, pp. 45–48.
19. Ma M., Luo S., Tang X., Chen Q. Age structure and growth pattern of a high‐altitude lizard population based on age determination by skeletochronology. Journal of Experimental Zoology, Part A: Ecological and Integrative Physiology, 2022, vol. 337, iss. 5, pp. 491–500. https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.2583.
20. Measey G. J., Wilkinson M. Lines of arrested growth in the caecilian, Typhlonectes natans (Amphibia: Gymnophiona). Amphibia–Reptilia, 1998, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 91–95. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853898X00359
21. Robson D. S., Chapman D. G. Catch curves and mortality rates. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 1961, vol. 90, iss. 2, pp. 181–189. https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1961)90[181:CCAMR]2.0.CO;2
22. Scholz S., Orlik M., Gonwouo L. N., Kupfer A. Demography and life history of a viviparous Central African caecilian amphibian. Journal of Zoology, 2010, vol. 280, iss. 1, pp. 17–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00639.x
23. Seber G. A. F. The estimation of Animal Abundance and Related Parameters. London, Griffin, 1973. 506 p.
24. Waye H. L., Gregory P. Determining the age of garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.) by means of skeletochronology. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1998, vol. 76, iss. 2, pp. 288–294. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-76-2-288
Review
For citations:
Kidov A.A., Ivanov A.A., Ivolga R.A., Kondratova T.E., Kidova E.A. Age structure of the population of Anguis colchica orientalis (Reptilia, Anguidae) in the Talysh Mountains. Povolzhskiy Journal of Ecology. 2023;(3):374-382. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.35885/1684-7318-2023-3-374-382
Views:
291
Email this article 
