[Herpetology • 2010] Skeletochronological Assessment of Age in the Himalayan Crocodile Newt, Tylototriton 'verrucosus' (Anderson, 1871) from northern Thailand

ABSTRACT

Lines of arrested growth (LAGs) were assessed in Thai population of the protected and rare Himalayan crocodile newt, Tylototriton verrucosus (Anderson, 1871) from Northern Thailand using skeletochronology. LAGs were clearly discernable in phalangeal bone cross-sections and could be  interpreted as age. The number of LAGs in the sampled breeding population was found to be 4-8 in males (n=12) and 4 and 6 in females (n=2), consistent with previous observations that sexual maturity is reached at four years of age in both sexes. Although limited in sample size, the data suggest that males with ages over eight years are rare or absent in the breeding population studied. This non-lethal technique thus appears of potential use in ecological studies requiring non-lethal sampling of tropical urodela, including rare and or protected species. 

KEY WORDS: Skeletochronology, LAGs, Tropical newt, Tylototriton verrucosus, Thailand

Wichase Khonsue, Thosapol Chaiananporn and Porrawee Pomchote. 2010. Skeletochronological Assessment of Age in the Himalayan Crocodile Newt, Tylototriton verrucosus (Anderson, 1871) from Thailand. Tropical Natural History. 10(2): 181-188.

http://www.zoo3.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de/fileadmin/07020300/zoo3/download_pub_pdf/TropNaturalHistory2010_10_181-188.pdf

[Herpetology • 2008] Two Distinctive Color Patterns of the Himalayan Newt Tylototriton 'verrucosus' (Urodela: Salamandridae) Found in Thailand and Its Implication on Geographic Segregation

Type I & Type II Dorsal Color Pattern | females of Tylototriton 'verrucosus'

ABSTRACT

 Field surveys were carried out at 14 locations in seven provinces of Thailand, from December 2001 to September 2006, searching for the Himalayan newt (Tylototriton verrucosus Anderson, 1871). The newt was found at 11 of the 14 locations visited, eight of which constitute new locality records for the species within Thailand. Our observations show that the Himalayan newts in Thailand can be divided into two types based on their distribution, body coloration, and female size. This species was generally found in small streams and ponds, usually in mountainous areas at least 1,000 m above sea level. The ecological and conservation implications of Tylototriton verrucosus in Thailand are discussed.

KEY WORDS: Body coloration, new localities, newt, Thailand, Tylototriton verrucosus

FIGURE 1. Distribution of Himalayan newts (Tylototriton verrucosus)

 A. gathered from old published literatures. B. from this survey. 

(•) Indicate Type I newts (orange to yellow body coloration). (o) Indicate Type II newts (dull body coloration). 

Pomchote, P., Pariyanonth, P. & Khonsue, W. 2008. Two Distinctive Color Patterns of the Himalayan Newt Tylototriton verrucosus (Urodela: Salamandridae) Found in Thailand and Its Implication on Geographic Segregation. The Natural History Journal of Chulalongkorn University. 8, 35–43.

http://www.aseanbiodiversity.info/Abstract/53006539.pdf