A skeletochronological estimate of age in a population of the Siberian Wood Frog, <em>Rana amurensis</em>, from northeastern China

Abstract

I used skeletochronology to estimate age structure of the Siberian Wood Frog, Rana amurensis, from northeastern China. Average age did not differ significantly between males and females. Age at sexual maturity in both males and females was 1 year. For both sexes the maximum age observed was 4 years. Average body size differed significantly between the sexes, with males being larger than females. A significantly and positively correlation between body size and age was found within each sex in the population. When the effect of age was controlled, males also had larger size than females, suggesting that sexual selection for larger males might improve male mating success.