Age structure and morphometric traits of the southern banded newt Ommatotriton vittatus in an artificial cement reservoir within the coastal mountain range of Latakia Governorate, Syria

Abstract

This study analyzed the age structure, growth patterns, and morphological characteristics of a local population of Ommatotriton vittatus inhabiting a site previously affected by wildfires in Latakia Governorate, Syria, using skeletochronology. The study included 37 individuals, comprising 19 females and
 18 males. Female ages ranged from 2–4 years (2.9 ± 0.91), while males ranged from
 2–5 years (3.38 ± 1.19). The population exhibited an age structure dominated by
 middle-aged individuals, with a reduced representation of older age classes.

Males showed greater body length and body mass than females. Mean snout–vent length (SVL) was 56.9 mm in males and 52 mm in females, while mean body mass was 4.18 g and 2.29 g, respectively.

The results suggest that the population is undergoing partial recovery following a past environmental disturbance, with ongoing reproductive activity and evidence of regenerative capacity. These findings highlight the species’ sensitivity to local environmental changes and emphasize the importance of skeletochronology as a reliable tool for assessing amphibian population dynamics and ecological responses to disturbance in Mediterranean ecosystems.