Age, growth, and survivorship in the viviparous salamander Mertensiella luschani from southwestern Turkey

International audienceWe describe the life-history traits (body size, age at maturity, longevity, and survivorship) of a terrestrial salamander, Mertensiella luschani, from a population living in the Mediterranean environment of southwestern Turkey. We used phalangeal skeletochronology to estimate the age of juveniles and adults. Lines of arrested growth, deposited during the winter cessation of bone growth, allowed us to estimate the age at maturity to be 3 years old in both sexes. Males attained a maximum age of 8, whereas females attained a maximum age of 10. Juveniles ranged from 1 to 3 years old. Males were smaller than females. Growth curves fitted to von Bertalanffy's equation revealed similar growth coefficients in adults and larger average maximum body lengths in males. Adult annual survivorship and adult life expectancy were 0.79 and 5.4 years, respectively. Knowledge of age, growth, and survivorship in this species under the constraints of a seasonal Mediterranean climate, and a comparison of similar traits in other salamandrid species, allow us to test predictions regarding optimal timing of growth and reproduction in these species