Aging Salamandrina perspicillata (Savi, 1821) by skeletochronology

We assessed age and first reproduction age in Salamandrina perspicillata females by means of skeletochronological analysis. As we examined sections from the third toe of the hind limbs, the tecnique herewith introduced is non-letal and compatible with ecological investigations. Females reached sexual maturity at four or five years; the oldest female was 12. SVL is a reliable body size index for assessing age (r2 = 0.74).