Comparison of the embrionic and larval periods of Anatolian Banded Newt (Ommatotriton nesterovi) and Caucasian Banded Newt (Ommatotriton ophryticus)

In this thesis study, embryos and larvae of Anatolian Banded Newt (Ommatoriton nesterovi) and Caucasian Banded Newt (Ommatotriton ophryticus) were compared during two breeding seasons in 2022 and 2023. As a result of field studies and laboratory observations for O. nesterovi in Zonguldak and Karabük provinces and for O. ophryticus in Rize and Trabzon provinces, embryonic and larval development of 1482 eggs belonging to O. nesterovi and 556 eggs belonging to O. ophryticus were observed. As a result of the observations, it was revealed that the width and length of the early eggs the width and length of the eggs with shaped embryos and the total body lengths of the larvae of the O. ophryticus were statistically significantly larger than the eggs and larvae of the O. nesterovi. The hatching days of the larvae are in 5-19th days in O. nesterovi, while the larvae of O. ophryticus emerged from the eggs in 7-36th days. Other significant differences observed between both species are that in the later stages of the larval stage, the larvae of O. ophryticus have a darker dorsal color and more distinct dark spots compared to the larvae of O. nesterovi, and the number of external gill filaments of O. ophryticus larvae in the later stages of the larval stage is different slightly more than the larvae of the species. Keywords: Reproduction, Prelarva, Ommatotriton, Egg, Morphology