MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY AND SEXUAL DIMORPHISM OF THE FIRE SALAMANDER FROM THE GRADIŠKA AREA (REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the analysis of the morphological variability and sexual dimorphism in the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) population from the Gradiška area (Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina). Field research was conducted in the autumn and spring 2016 and 2017. A total of 70 adult individuals were analyzed, comprising of 40 males and 30 females. Twenty-two morphometric characters, body mass, one meristic trait (number of costal grooves on the lateral sides of the body), and qualitative traits related to body coloration were analyzed. By applying t-tests, statistically significant differences between the sexes were found for body mass, maximum body height, maximum body width, cloaca length, tail height, tail width, forelimb length, hind limb length, hand length, and foot length. The number of costal grooves on the left and right sides of the body ranged from eight to 12, with individuals having 10 and 11 costal grooves being the most common. Both individuals with the same or different numbers of costal grooves on the left and right sides of the body were observed. The majority of individuals (51%) had symmetric arrangement of yellow spots on the dorsal side of the body, while the presence of yellow spots was most prevalent (69%) on the ventral side of the body in terms of coloration.