Life History Traits in a Population of Mediodactylus kotschyi (Steindachner, 1870) from Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out by using skeletochronology method to assess the relationships of age and body length of the individuals in a population (located in Kasımlar Village of Sütçüler district of Isparta province) of the Kotschy’s gecko (Mediodactylus kotschyi). The mean age and SVL in the individuals belonging to the Kasımlar population were 3.50 ± 0.9 years and 38.65 ± 3.6 mm (3.37 ± 0.59 years and 38.19 ± 2.27 mm in the males, and 3.73 ± 1.27 years and 39.45 ± 5.27 mm in the females). The age range varied between 2 – 4 years in males and 2 – 6 years in females. It was observed that both females and males reached sexual maturity at the age of 2 – 3 years. A positive correlation was found between body size (SVL) and age in female and male individuals of this species.