Age determination and some growth parameters of Rana ridibunda (Water Frog) population from Yıldızlı Stream , Trabzon

SUMMARY Age Determination and Some Growth Parameters of Rana ridibunda (Water Frog) Population from Yıldızlı Stream, Trabzon Age determination and some growth parameters were studied in a population of Rana ridibunda from Yıldızlı Stream (Trabzon) by skeletochronology. Age was determined for individual frogs by counting the number of resting lines (RL) in cross-sections taken from phalanges. The maximum longevity of females and males was 6 and 7 years, respectively. The minimum age at maturity was 2, at 55 mm body length, for females, and 2, at 46 mm, for males. Body sizes of males are smaller than those of females. Males and females are sexually mature in their fourth year although some of them mature at 2 or 3 years. The body length was ranged from 55 to 99 mm in females and 38 to 83 mm males. Individual sizes were higly correlated with age in males (R=0,547, p=0,0003) and weakly in females (R=0,332, p>0,05). Also the body sizes were highly correlated with the mass of gonads in body sexes (in males R=0,972, p<0,0001; in females R=0,805, p<0,0001). Key words: Rana ridibunda, Amphibia, Age Determination, Growth, Skeletochronology VI