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Animals
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Age Determination, Growth and Longevity of Amphibians and Reptiles
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Age Determination, Growth and Longevity of Amphibians and Reptiles

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Herpetology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 6146

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Fabio M. Guarino

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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy
Interests: amphibian; reptiles; osteology; bone histology; skeletochronology; morphology; ecology; evolution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marcello Mezzasalma

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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, 87036 Rende, Italy
Interests: amphibian; reptiles; evolution; cytogenetics; morphology; phylogenetics; biogeography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Amphibians and reptiles represent two particularly interesting groups to better understand the proximate and evolutionary causes of aging and longevity in vertebrates. They include many species with a maximum longevity higher than 100 years (e.g., Proteus salamanders, Galapagos tortoise) and the current record holder for the shortest lifespan in tetrapod vertebrates (about five months, in the Labord’s chameleon, Furcifer labordi). Wild amphibians and reptiles show a greater variation in growth rates and longevity than birds and mammals. Furthermore, in these vertebrates, the age structure and other demographic traits can strongly differ among populations of the same species living at a different altitude and/or latitude. However, like in endotherm vertebrates, in amphibians and reptiles, both growth rates and longevities are correlated at age of sexual maturity.

Despite the fact that, in the last two decades, numerous studies have been conducted on the growth and longevity of different species and populations of amphibians and reptiles, several aspects remain insufficiently explored, including those focusing on whether variations in age structure or other demographic parameters can be attributed to natural geographical variations or to climate change or human-induced effects (i.e., alterations to the environment) or other causes. Another challenge is represented by developing new methods of “absolute age” determination that would provide increasingly accurate age estimates, overcoming the limitations of current techniques.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present new studies to advance our knowledge on demographic life-history traits in amphibians and reptiles as well as on the evolutionary diversification of aging and longevity in these vertebrates. Reviews and methodological contributions are welcome to be submitted.

Prof. Dr. Fabio M. Guarino
Dr. Marcello Mezzasalma
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • amphibians
  • reptiles
  • age determination
  • growth rates
  • age at sexual maturity
  • longevity
  • demographic traits
  • evolution of aging and longevity

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4697 KiB  
Article
Demographic and Life-History Responses of Rhinella arenarum to Road-Associated Environments
by Mariana Baraquet, Favio Pollo, Manuel Otero, Adolfo Martino and Pablo Grenat
Animals 2025, 15(9), 1343; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15091343 - 6 May 2025
Viewed by 84
Abstract
The global decline of amphibians is linked to habitat loss, with urbanization and roads as major threats. Roads fragment habitats and introduce stressors like pollution, temperature changes, and non-native predators. Despite growing awareness, studies in Latin America are scarce. In this study, we [...] Read more.
The global decline of amphibians is linked to habitat loss, with urbanization and roads as major threats. Roads fragment habitats and introduce stressors like pollution, temperature changes, and non-native predators. Despite growing awareness, studies in Latin America are scarce. In this study, we examined life-history traits of Rhinella arenarum from four sites in central Argentina that differ in urbanization intensity near roads. We analyzed snout–vent length (SVL), age, growth, size at maturity, and longevity in reproductive individuals. Sexual size dimorphism was present across sites, with females consistently larger than males. Moderate variation in SVL and age structure was observed among populations, with smaller and generally younger individuals in sites with medium-to-high urbanization. In contrast, individuals from the least disturbed site tended to show broader age ranges and greater longevity. Growth rates were also slower in the most urbanized site. While differences were moderate and sample sizes limited, these patterns suggest that urban-associated factors may influence demographic traits in R. arenarum. These findings contribute to our understanding of how human-altered environments might affect amphibian populations and highlight the need to distinguish between natural geographic variation and anthropogenic impacts on amphibian populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age Determination, Growth and Longevity of Amphibians and Reptiles)
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18 pages, 3532 KiB  
Article
Age Structure of Water Frogs of the Genus Pelophylax in the Middle Volga River Region (European Russia)
by Renat Zamaletdinov, Anton Svinin, Alexander Fayzulin, Oleg Ermakov, Regina Mikhaylova and Spartak Litvinchuk
Animals 2025, 15(9), 1273; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15091273 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 256
Abstract
An analysis of the age structure of three water frog species (P. lessonae, P. ridibundus, P. esculentus) in the Middle Volga region of Russia was conducted. The skeletochronological method determined their maximum lifespans to be 7, [...] Read more.
An analysis of the age structure of three water frog species (P. lessonae, P. ridibundus, P. esculentus) in the Middle Volga region of Russia was conducted. The skeletochronological method determined their maximum lifespans to be 7, 6, and 4 years, respectively. This study revealed specific characteristics of the age structure of Pelophylax frogs in relation to their taxonomic composition when cohabiting (population system type) and the degree of habitat transformation. Differences in body size and lifespan were observed among cryptic forms exhibiting mitochondrial DNA replacement and the presence of various types of heterozygous and homozygous alleles. Water frogs of the genus Pelophylax have a complex taxonomic structure, including hybrid species and morphologically cryptic forms, as well as massive mitochondrial DNA introgression. The aim of our paper was to analyze the age structure of three species of water frogs (P. lessonae, P. ridibundus, and P. esculentus) in the Middle Volga River region (European Russia). Based on the skeletochronological method, we determined their maximum lifespans of seven, six, and four years, respectively. The onset of sexual maturity in the marsh frogs occurred after two and four winterings in males and females (respectively), in the pond frog—one to two years, and in the edible frog—one to three years. This study revealed specific characteristics of the age structure of Pelophylax frogs in relation to their taxonomic composition when cohabiting (population system type) and the degree of habitat transformation. Differences in body size and lifespan were observed among cryptic forms exhibiting mitochondrial DNA replacement and the presence of various types of heterozygous and homozygous alleles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age Determination, Growth and Longevity of Amphibians and Reptiles)
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13 pages, 1602 KiB  
Article
Continental vs. Insular: Demographic and Growth Patterns in Acanthodactylus schreiberi
by Büşra Kara, Mehmet Zülfü Yıldız, Deniz Yalçınkaya and Abdullah Altunışık
Animals 2025, 15(4), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15040474 - 7 Feb 2025
Viewed by 537
Abstract
This study examines the demographic parameters, body size, survival rates, and growth dynamics of Acanthodactylus schreiberi populations in continental (Botaş, Türkiye) and insular (Dipkarpaz, Northern Cyprus) habitats to understand how ecological constraints influence life-history traits. By integrating skeletochronological and morphometric analyses, we identified [...] Read more.
This study examines the demographic parameters, body size, survival rates, and growth dynamics of Acanthodactylus schreiberi populations in continental (Botaş, Türkiye) and insular (Dipkarpaz, Northern Cyprus) habitats to understand how ecological constraints influence life-history traits. By integrating skeletochronological and morphometric analyses, we identified significant interpopulation differences. The continental population exhibited broader age ranges, higher survival rates, and less restricted growth, likely due to greater resource availability. In contrast, the insular population showed life-history variations associated with limited resources, including smaller body sizes, lower survival rates, and distinct growth patterns. Sexual dimorphism was more pronounced in the insular population, with males exhibiting higher growth rates. These findings suggest that habitat size, resource availability, and isolation shape demographic and morphological traits, highlighting the evolutionary and ecological pressures in different environments. The results underscore the need for conservation strategies tailored to these unique populations, particularly in the face of environmental changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age Determination, Growth and Longevity of Amphibians and Reptiles)
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12 pages, 8872 KiB  
Article
Life–History Traits of Eremias pleskei Nikolsky, 1905 from Northeastern Anatolia
by Kamil Candan, Elif Yıldırım Caynak, Serkan Gül, Yusuf Kumlutaş, Çetin Ilgaz and Cantekin Dursun
Animals 2024, 14(23), 3373; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14233373 - 23 Nov 2024
Viewed by 973
Abstract
In this study, the life–history traits of Eremias pleskei are presented for the first time. A total of 27 samples (17 ♂♂ and 10 ♀♀) from Iğdır Province, Türkiye, were aged using skeletochronology. Student’s t-test was performed to compare mean differences in [...] Read more.
In this study, the life–history traits of Eremias pleskei are presented for the first time. A total of 27 samples (17 ♂♂ and 10 ♀♀) from Iğdır Province, Türkiye, were aged using skeletochronology. Student’s t-test was performed to compare mean differences in the variables between sexes. The relationships between age and snout–vent length (SVL) were determined through correlation. Growth patterns were estimated based on the von Bertalanffy equation. Lastly, survival rate and adult life expectancy were calculated for each sex. The mean SVL was 52.93 ± 1.28 mm in males and 46.23 ± 1.55 in females. The mean age was 4.88 ± 0.43 years and 3.20 ± 0.29 years for males and females, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that age and SVL were highly correlated in males (r = 0.49) and females (r = 0.75). The growth coefficient (K) was found to be 0.28 ± 0.18 in females and 0.62 ± 0.25 in males. The survival rate was 57.14% in females and 75.38% in males. The adult life expectancy was calculated at 2.83 years and 4.56 years in females and males, respectively. To sum up, males were larger than females, indicating male-biased sexual size dimorphism (SDI: −0.144). In addition, males had a greater mean age and longevity (max male age: 8 yr; max female age: 5 yr). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age Determination, Growth and Longevity of Amphibians and Reptiles)
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16 pages, 2634 KiB  
Article
Age Structure, Body Size, and Sexual Dimorphism in a High-Altitude Population of Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771)
by Serkan Gül, Cantekin Dursun, Ceren Tabak, Sümeyye Büyüksofuoğlu and Nurhayat Özdemir
Animals 2024, 14(22), 3230; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14223230 - 11 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1002
Abstract
This study aimed to describe the morphological characteristics and age structure of a P. ridibundus population sampled from a high altitude. For this purpose, a total of 54 adult frogs (33 males and 21 females) were collected from Şavşat district, Artvin province, Türkiye. [...] Read more.
This study aimed to describe the morphological characteristics and age structure of a P. ridibundus population sampled from a high altitude. For this purpose, a total of 54 adult frogs (33 males and 21 females) were collected from Şavşat district, Artvin province, Türkiye. The samples were aged based on skeletochronology method. Furthermore, von Bertalanffy growth curve models were constructed using SVL and weight data. To assess sexual size and shape dimorphism, the measurements of 23 different morphological characters were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques. The mean SVL and weight were found to be 78.05 mm and 60.87 g for males and 93.95 mm and 109.61 g for females. The mean age was 3.67 years and 4.05 years for males and females, respectively. The maximum age was found to be 6 years for both sexes. Growth curve models revealed a significant relationship between age, SVL, and weight. A clear female-biased sexual size dimorphism was found in all morphological characters. However, SVL-adjusted values indicated that males had larger head and limb structures resulting from evolutional and sexual pressures associated with reproduction and male–male competition. The shape dimorphism was found only in forelimbs, and it was male-biased and was related to clasping in amplexus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age Determination, Growth and Longevity of Amphibians and Reptiles)
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14 pages, 3964 KiB  
Article
Environmental Drivers of Local Demography and Size Plasticity in Fire Salamanders (Salamandra salamandra)
by Ulrich Sinsch
Animals 2024, 14(19), 2869; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14192869 - 5 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1064
Abstract
Conspecific amphibian populations may vary widely in local demography and average body size throughout their geographical range. The environmental drivers of variation may reflect geographical gradients or local habitat quality. Among fire salamander populations (Salamandra salamandra), local demography shows a limited [...] Read more.
Conspecific amphibian populations may vary widely in local demography and average body size throughout their geographical range. The environmental drivers of variation may reflect geographical gradients or local habitat quality. Among fire salamander populations (Salamandra salamandra), local demography shows a limited range of variation because high concentrations of skin toxins reduce mortality from predation to a minimum, whereas average adult body size varies significantly over a wide range. This study on four neighboring populations inhabiting the catchments of low-order streams in the upper middle Rhine Valley (Koblenz, Germany) focuses on the identification of local environmental drivers of variation in age and body size. I collected 192 individuals at two localities per stream, measured snout–vent length, clipped a toe for posterior skeletochronological age determination, and released salamanders in situ again. Populations were similar in age distribution. Local habitat quality accounted for a significant proportion of demographic variability, mediated by the impact of landscape-induced mortality risk, including roads and agriculture. Still, the main effect of variation in habitat quality was on adult body size, the result of growth rates of aquatic larvae and terrestrial juveniles. Larvae exposed to non-lethal heavy metal contamination in streams developed into smaller juveniles and adults than clean-water larvae, providing evidence for carry-over effects from one stage to another. The generally small average adult size in the Rhine Valley populations compared to those in other parts of the distribution range indicates the action of a still unidentified environmental driver. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age Determination, Growth and Longevity of Amphibians and Reptiles)
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11 pages, 4025 KiB  
Article
Age and Body Size of the Endemic and Critically Endangered Frog Species Rana tavasensis (Baran and Atatür, 1986) in Türkiye
by Ufuk Bülbül, Eyup Başkale and Hatice Özkan
Animals 2024, 14(18), 2703; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14182703 - 18 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1146
Abstract
This study used skeletochronology to assess the relationships between age and body length among individuals in a population of the Tavas Frog (Rana tavasensis), located in the Çakıroluk plateau, Tavas district, Denizli province. The age varied from 3 to 12 years [...] Read more.
This study used skeletochronology to assess the relationships between age and body length among individuals in a population of the Tavas Frog (Rana tavasensis), located in the Çakıroluk plateau, Tavas district, Denizli province. The age varied from 3 to 12 years in both adult males and females. The age was 2 years in two subadult males, while it was 1 year in one juvenile specimen. The mean SVL and age of the adult individuals of the Çakıroluk population were 62.75 mm and 6.70 years in male specimens and 58.04 mm and 6.12 years in female specimens. A positive correlation was found between body size (SVL) and age in adult female and male individuals of the species. Because the number of individuals of the species is rapidly decreasing, species protection measures, based on knowledge related to the age structure and breeding features of these frogs, must be put into action urgently. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Age Determination, Growth and Longevity of Amphibians and Reptiles)
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