TO THE STUDY OF THE GROWTH PECULIARITIES IN ONTOGENESIS AND AGE STRUCTURE OF THE HYRCANIAN MEADOW LIZARD, DAREVSKIA PRATICOLA HYRCANICA (REPTILIA, LACERTIDAE) POPULATION IN THE TYPE LOCALITY (GADAZYGHAHI NATURAL BOUNDARIES, TALYSH MOUNTAINS)

Abstract

Background. The Hyrcanian meadow lizard, Darevskia praticola hyrcanica is a narrow-area endemic of the southwest Pre-Caspian region. To date, there is no information about the life expectancy of this lizard, the timing of maturity and growth features. The purpose of this research is studying of growth features in ontogenesis and assess of age structure and growth of the Hyrcanian meadow lizard in the type locality (Gadazyghahi Natural Boundaries, Astara district, Azerbaijan). Materials and methods. Lizards were captured in May, 2016. In adult animals, the body length (L) was measured and the phalanx of the third finger of the hind limb was cut off. Age was determined by the method of skeletochronology. A total of 27 adult lizards were studied, including 19 females and 8 males. Results. The studied sample of lizards contained animals from three to five years old. The average age of males was 4,0 years and for females is 4,2 years. Animals of different age groups were quite well differentiated by body length. In adult lizards, the length of the body was statistically significantly different for animals aged three and four years, three and five years, four and five years. In the group of females, three-year-old animals with four-year-old and five-year-old lizards were significantly different in body length. Conclusions. The meadow lizard in Gadazyghahi, like other studied species from the genus Darevskia, belongs to late-maturing and long-living species.

Keywords

• the hyrcanian meadow lizard
• darevskia praticola hyrcanica
• type locality
• age
• growth
• talysh mountains
• south-east azerbaijan