Sexual Size Dimorphism And Pattern Polymorphism Of The Bufotes Sitibundus (Syn. Bufotes Variabilis) Pallas, 1771 In Azerbaijan

Abstract

The paper contains data on sexual size dimorphism of Bufotes sitibundus Pallas, 1771 with samples from the “Greater Caucasus”, “Lankaran” and “Absheron” territories of Azerbaijan. The 139 adult specimens (62♂ and 77♀) from 3 populations were collected. They were released after morphometric measurements and pattern morphs analysis. The data were processed in the STATISTICA Stat Soft 10 program. Reliability of differences was estimated using Independent Sample t-test. Statistical analysis of morphological features showed that there are differences in different features between males and females in different populations. In each of the populations studied, the femur (FmL) and tibia (TbL) were longer in males than in females. Investigation of the pattern polymorphism in 126 specimens has shown that dorsal pattern with spots separated by short distance between them is dominant in 2 studied populations (“Absheron” and “Lankaran”). There were not found any differences between males and females according to pattern charcteristcs.