Bibliography
MORPHOMETRIC CHANGES IN THE SMOOTH NEWT (TRITURUS VULGARIS) DURING AQUATIC PHASE
1995, 53 (4) p. 151-159
Abstract
The changes of length and mass of smooth newts (Triturus vulgaris) were investigated during the aquatic phase of their lives in a small pond of Croatian capital Zagreb. During their aquatic phase from March 19th to June 1st 1994 the ecological conditions in the pond were also checked regularly each week. The changes of tail lengths were the most significant in the changes of totallengths in both sexes. However, while males became slightly longer (from 8,47+0,53 cm to 8,85+0,54 cm, p>0.50) and didn't change their mass (from 2,09+0,14 g to 2,06+0,22 g, p>0.50), females became significantly shorter (from 8,50+0,71 cm to 7,30+0,43 cm, p<0.85) and weighted less (from 2,03+0,31 g to 1,61+0,25 g, p<0.75). That can be explained by the usual tail fin decrease after the ovipositian has been completed, by losing organic material and energy during the ovipositian and probably as the result of the asynchronous ovipositian in the newts. The larvae of smooth newts expressed very fast growth (p), as they had to complete their transformation before the unsuitable summer conditions in the pond.
Keywords
smooth newt, triturus vulgaris, morphometry, aquatic phase, croatia