Age structure of Hemidactylus turcicus (L., 1758) (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from southwestern Anatolia (Muğla, Turkey)

Abstract

In this study, a total of 36 (12♂♂, 18♀♀, 6 juveniles) Hemidactylus turcicus specimens, caught in the vicinity of Muğla (Turkey) between 2006 and 2011, were evaluated using the skeletochronology method. The mean snout-to-vent length (SVL) was measured as 28.45 ± 1.92 mm for juveniles, 50.53 ± 1.06 mm for males, and 51.1 ± 0.75 mm for females. When the cross-sections were examined, the age range was determined to be 4–8 years in the males and 4–9 years in the females. Individuals reach sexual maturity in 2–3 years. The maximum age was calculated as 9 years for a female. It was determined that there was a strong positive correlation between SVL and age structure in the male (r = 0.98) and female (r = 0.96) individuals.