AGE DETERMINATION OF Ophisops elegans (M?N?TRI?S, 1832) (SQUAMATA: LACERTIDAE) POPULATIONS FROM DIFFERENT ALTITUDES IN TURKEY

In this study, comparison of body size and age of two populations of Ophisops elegans from different altitudes was carried out (Kepez, 180 m; Pa thorn ayaylasATIN SMALL LETTER Y WITH ACUTE, 1250 m). We applied phalangeal skeletochronology to obtain the age of juveniles and adults by counting the lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in phalangeal cross-sections. Male-biased sexual dimorphism was observed in Kepez, while female-biased sexual dimorphism was determined in the Pa thorn a-yaylasATIN SMALL LETTER Y WITH ACUTE population. Both male and female individuals in Kepez and Pa thorn ayaylasATIN SMALL LETTER Y WITH ACUTE populations reached sexual matu-rity at the age of 3. The maximum age or longevity was calculated as 7 years in males and 9 years in females. Con-sidering all individuals, the Kepez population was found to be older than Pa thorn ayaylasATIN SMALL LETTER Y WITH ACUTE population. For both popula-tions, a significant positive correlation was found between age and size in males and females.