Age, Growth, and Fertility in Terentiev’s Frog ( Pelophylax terentievi , Amphibia, Ranidae)

Terentiev’s frog ( Pelophylax terentievi ) is one of the least studied representatives of the genus. The results of studying the age structure and growth of this species based on skeletochronology, as well as the results of fertility assessment, are presented for the first time. Altogether, 36 specimens from the vicinity of Shahritus, Khatlon region, southern Tajikistan were studied. In all individuals, lines of arrested growth were found in the cross sections of bones. The age averaged 3.5 ± 0.98 years in females compared to 4.1 ± 1.38 years in males, and the maximum age was five and six years, respectively. Adult females and males did not differ in body length, but the former were able to reach a longer body during their lifetime (SVL max is 99.16 mm for females and 62.84 mm for males), while their growth coefficient ( k ) was significantly lower than that of males (0.182 and 0.549, respectively). Females were characterized by lower rates of estimated survival (S is 0.72 in females and 0.77 in males) and life expectancy (ESP is 4.11 years in females and 4.86 years in males). Frogs reach sexual maturity at the age of three or four years, and their absolute fertility is 138–3317 eggs per female.