Cite this article as:
Ivanov A. A., Nikonova V. R., Balashova A. O., Erashkin V. O., Kidov A. A. Age structure, growth and reproduction of Anguis colchica (Reptilia, Anguidae) in the east of the Lesser Caucasus. Current Studies in Herpetology, 2025, vol. 25, iss. 3, pp. 176-179. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18500/1814-6090-2025-25-3-4-176-179
Age structure, growth and reproduction of Anguis colchica (Reptilia, Anguidae) in the east of the Lesser Caucasus
The results of our study of age and growth of the Eastern slowworm (Anguis colchica) in two localities in the east of the Lesser Caucasus are presented. 33 individuals (18 males and 15 females) from the vicinity of Stepanavan town (Lori Marz, Armenia) were studied. A sample from the vicinity of Zanavi village (Borjomi municipality, Samtskhe-Javakheti region, Georgia) contained 19 specimens (6 males and 13 females). The body length of captured animals was measured and the tip of the tail was clipped. The mandibular dental bone was also extracted from Stepanavan individuals killed on the motorway. The tail vertebrae and tooth bones of slow worms were shown to produce an equal number of stopped growth lines. The age of females from Stepanavan ranged from 2 to 6 years (mean 4.33±1.35) and males 3 to 7 years (mean 4.72±1.13), respectively. Males and females did not differ statistically significantly in their mean age. The females from Zanavi were 3–7 years old (mean 4.67±0.89) and males 3–6 years old (mean 4.67±1.04), respectively. Lizards from Armenia and Georgia did not differ in their mean age. In Stepanavan, males were significantly larger than females, while in Zanavi they did not differ. Females from Zanavi were larger than females from Stepanavan, and males from Stepanavan were larger than males from Zanavi.
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
Smirina E. M. Methodology for determining the age of amphibians and reptiles by layers in bone. In: Scherbak N. N., ed. Guide to the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Kiev, Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR Publ., 1989, pp. 144–153 (in Russian).
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.
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. Biology Bulletin, 2023, vol. 50, iss. 10, pp. 2857–2860. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359023100345
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)90181:CCAMR 2.0.CO;2
Seber G. A. F. The Estimation of Animal Abundance and Related Parameters. London, Griffin, 1973. 506 p.
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
