Allometry and autotomy of the tail in the Golden-striped salamander, Chioglossa lusitanica

Abstract

AbstractThe Golden-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica) from the Iberian peninsula is characterised by the possession of a long tail which it can shed (autotomy). The allometric relationship of tail length and body length is described for larvae, juveniles and adult males and females, using modal values extracted from a large data set. Tail length increases non-lineary with body length and in adults the tail frequently exceeds twice the length of the body (i.e. tail-index > 2). The frequency of observed autotomy ranges from 6% to 33%. Differences are observed in tail-index and autotomy rates between life stages and sexes; differences are also observed between temporal and spatial subgroups. It is concluded that tail-length is an important demographic character in C. lusitanica. Comparisons are made with some American plethodontid salamanders to which C. lusitanica shows a striking morphological similarity.