Investigation of the age structure and the growth of lacerta media (Lantz and cyren, 1920)

This study was carried out by using skeletochronology method to assess the relationships of age, body length and growth of the individuals in a population (located in Harmancık village of Torul district of Gümüşhane province) of the Levant green lizard (Lacerta media). The mean age and SVL in the adult individuals belonged to the Harmancık population were 101,57 ± 4,04 mm and 5,31 ± 1,34 for all individuals of L. media (101,10 ± 3,61 mm and 5,31 ± 1,03 in adult female specimens and 102,09 ± 4,57 mm and 5,33 ± 1,67 in adult male specimens, respectively). The age range varied between 4-8 years in adult males and 4-7 years in adult females. It was observed that both adult females and males reached sexual maturity at the age of 4 years. The age of the subadult males and subadult females was found as 3 years while the age of the juveniles was 2 years old. A positive correlation was found between body size (SVL) and age in adult female and male individuals of the species. A male-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD = -0.097) was observed. There was no statistically significant difference in the growth rate between sexes.