University of Guilan Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences 1735-3033 17 3 2019 09 01 A skeletochronological study of age in the Caspian pond turtle, Mauremys caspica caspica (Testudines: Geoemydidae) in Golestan Province, Iran 249 257 3667 10.22124/cjes.2019.3667 EN Mahsa Yazarloo Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran Haji Gholi Kami Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran Ali Akbar Bagherian Yazdi Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran Journal Article 2019 02 27 We estimated age of the Caspian pond turtle,<em> Mauremys caspica</em><em>caspica</em>in Golestan Province with the skeletochronological method, using specimens collected by nets in natural habitats such as ponds and fish farms. In adult <em>M. c. caspica</em>, lines of arrested growth (LAGs) were clearly discernable in the phalangeal and fibula bone cross-sections. The median age of <em>M. c. caspica</em> in the examined Golestan Province population(n = 22) was calculated 9.6 years (4-12) in males (n = 10), and 10.16 years (4-13) in females (n = 12) for the first time. The maximum straight carapace length (SCL₂) was in the range of 83.74–221.41 (mean ± SD = 178.39 ± 48.89) mm in males and 103.02–236.84 (193.52 ± 41.32) mm in female specimens. Significant correlation was found between body size and age (p < 0.001). No difference was found in age composition between the sexes. Our study showed that skeletochronological method can be successfully applied to the Caspian pond turtle based on the clear arrest of growth in the hibernation period. https://cjes.guilan.ac.ir/article_3667_2490dc1683999f1b95de656e8fb56432.pdf