Skeletochronology of Anura (Amphibia)

Individual ages of eight different anuran species (Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Polypedates maculatus, Euphlyctis hexadactylus, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, Fejervarya sp., Microhyla ornata, Chirixalus shuns and Polypedates teraiensis) found in the Eastern India,. have been assessed by skeletochronology of phalanges and long bones. The maximum age for D. melanostictus was estimated to be twelve years, while for P. mac:dams it was seven years. The maximum age, for E. hexadactylus, E. cyanophlyctis, Fejervarya sp.; M. ornata. C. simus and P. teraiensis was found to be fourteen. six, four, four, tour and five years, respectively. The histology of bones con firms the formation of alternate growth rings and lines of arrested growth (LAG) in the cortical layer. The skeletochronological comparison or long bones and phalanges of the same individual revealed identical number of LAGs which is true for all the species studied.