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The first demographic data and life-history trait of Iranian endemic toad, Bufotes luristanicus

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Abstract

The study of growth in amphibians is essential because it directly affects the moment of sexual maturity, timing of reproductive events, fecundity, and longevity. In this study, demographic life-history traits were estimated for the first time in populations of the Lorestan toad (Bufotes luristanicus), living in the southwest of Iran. The microscopic and macroscopic analysis showed that the annual reproductive cycle in B. luristanicus is discontinuous, reaching its peak in March. Metamorphosis was completed in approximately 45 days after spawning, and mean body length at metamorphosis was 14 mm. Significant sexual size dimorphism (SSD) was present in all populations and a larger asymptotic body size was observed 63.78 mm for females vs 55.76 mm for males. The adult survival rate (S) and life expectancy (ESP) were the same for both sexes (S = 0.78 and ESP = 5.05 years). Age and body size were positively correlated with each other for both females and males. Maximum longevity was recorded to be six years in both females and males, and ages of sexual maturity were estimated to be two years in breeding individuals. The adults sample age ranged from two to six (mean age of females: 4.71 ± 0.30 years, in males: 4.37 ± 0.18 years) years. Our data show that females are larger than males and live longer.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the honorable authorities of Arak University for helping with the laboratory tasks. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their careful reading of our manuscript and their valuable comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, 3813853945, Iran

    Alireza Pesarakloo & Sareh Okhovat

  2. Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, 3813853945, Iran

    Sayed Jamal Mirkamali

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  1. Alireza Pesarakloo
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Correspondence to Alireza Pesarakloo.

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Toad samples were collected under the 95/10168 permit granted by the Iranian Department of Environment. All the experimental procedures and animal care were performed according to the protocols approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Arak University), Markazi, Iran (approval cod number: 97/10083061).

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Pesarakloo, A., Mirkamali, S.J. & Okhovat, S. The first demographic data and life-history trait of Iranian endemic toad, Bufotes luristanicus. Biologia 78, 819–827 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-022-01286-2

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