Age Determination, Growth and Longevity of Amphibians and Reptiles

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

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