title: A skeletochronological study of age, growth and longevity in a population of the frog Rana ridibunda from southern Europe.
abstract: Age at sexual maturity and longevity in a population of Rana ridibunda from north-eastern Greece were studied by skeletochronology performed on the phalanges. Analysis of the age structure was based on counting the lines of arrested growth (LAGs). Sexual maturity for both sexes arises during the first year or after the first hibernation. Ages ranged from 1 to 5 years (mean=2.96) among 52 males and from 1 to 5 years (mean=3.73) among 56 females. The mean snout-vent length was 69.03+/-12.6mm in males and 82.38+/-13.27 mm in females. The difference between the sexes in age and size was significant. Growth of individuals was fitted on? The von Bertalanffy model. The growth coefficient (K) was 0.57 in males and 0.54 in females, mainly due to faster male growth between metamorphosis and maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 134, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece. kyriakop@bio.auth.gr <kyriakop@bio.auth.gr>
authors.forename: Pasqualina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kyriakopoulou-Sklavounou
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stylianou
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsiora
mesh_terms: D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D011895:Rana ridibunda / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D050277:Toe Phalanges / Q000033:anatomy & histology*