Notes on Breeding of Mertensiella caucasica (Waga, 1876) (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Black Sea Coast of Turkey

Abstract

The eggs and embryos of the Caucasian salamander were investigated in a breeding population (Kayabaşı, Trabzon). We found 24 eggs at the beginning of June 2018. About three weeks later, the shaped embryos were observed in the eggs. Finally, we performed the last visit to the study site one month later from the second visit. The hatching process was almost finished except for 1 egg that had an embryo inside and 2 – 3 eggs, no living embryos inside. We observed that the egg development period lasted about 50 days in the Kayabaşı population. The hatching period of the Caucasian salamander may differ according to different ecological conditions.