Evidence for paedomorphosis in Macedonian crested newt (Triturus macedonicus) from Montenegro

Abstract

One of the most interesting heterochronic processes in the European newt (genus Triturus) is paedomorphosis, a phenomenon of attaining reproductive maturity while retaining larval features. However, paedomorphosis seems to be rare in the crested newt (Triturus cristatus superspecies). In the locality Vrba, near the town of Tuzi (Montenegro), Dr Georg Džukić found paedomorphic Macedonian crested newt (Triturus macedonicus). In this paper, new evidence for this heterochronic process in the crested newt from Montenegro is reported.

Keywords

• Heterochronic process
• Macedonian crested newt
• Montenegrin karst
• paedomorphosis