New data on facultative paedomorphism of the smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris, in Western Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract

During a monitoring survey of the amphibians and reptiles in Lake Sülüklü (Manisa, Turkey) in the spring of 2010, we found that the smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) population was composed of partially paedomorphic individuals. During the study, 146 aquatic individuals (56 males, 90 females) were captured and marked. Of these individuals, 27 (seven males, 20 females) were paedomorphic. The population size in Lake Sülüklü was calculated as 305 (SE=20.72, range=270-351). According to these data, it was calculated that about 18.5% (56 individuals) of the population consisted of paedomorphic individuals. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.