Reproductive characteristics of the Caucasian smooth newt, Lissotriton lantzi (Wolterstorff, 1914) from Abrau Peninsula (Northwest Caucasus, Russia)

Abstract

The publication presents results of the reproductive biology study of the Lissotriton lantzi (Wolterstorff, 1914) from the Abrau Peninsula (Krasnodar Territory, Russia). Ten females and ten males of this species were caught before breeding began. Animals were kept in plastic containers with water at a temperature of 11.5–23.0°C, one pair of newts in each container. Every day the reproductive behavior was recorded and laid eggs were selected. Males showed reproductive behavior (mating dance and position of spermatophore) within 1–36 days after the start of the research. Position of first eggs was observed in different females from 6 to 16 of April at a water temperature of 13.0–16.5°C. All ten females bred in April and May, only five females laid eggs in June and three females in July. The total duration of the oviposition period in different females was 41–99 days. Last eggs were found from May 26 to July 18 at a temperature of 17.5 to 23.0°C. Fertility of females in the breeding period was 67–832 eggs. The eggs of newts had a length of 3.1–4.0 mm and width of 1.9–2.8 mm. The duration of egg incubation at a temperature 14.5–20.5°C was from 13 to 24 days. Pre-larvae length after the hatching was equal to 6.5–9.8 mm. The larvae started to eat during 0–5 days after hatching. The length of larvae at the beginning of exogenous feeding was 8.2–11.3 mm. It is noted that most of the studied females (9 out of 10) had higher fertility than previously noted for this species (283–832 against 70–220 eggs).