hErPEToZoA 27 (1/2): 3 - 12 3 Wien, 30. Juli 2014 development and constancy of the markings in Neurergus kaiseri K. P. SchmidT , 1952 (caudata: Salamandridae) Entwicklung und Konstanz des Zeichnungsmusters von Neurergus kaiseri K. P. SchmidT , 1952 (caudata: Salamandridae) mELANiE KALiNA & G üNTEr SchuLTSchiK KurZFASSuNG An 36 Larven und Jungtieren von Neurergus kaiseri K. P. SchmidT , 1952 wurde untersucht, ob und in wel - chem Ausmaß die individuelle Zeichnung über längere Zeiträume so konstant bleibt, daß sie anstelle potentiell schädlicher, invasiver markierungsmethoden (z.B. microchips) zur individuellen Kennzeichnung durch Fotodokumentation verwendet werden kann. durch die Aufnahme von N. kaiseri mit 23.06.2010 in Anhang 1 des Washingtoner Artenschutzabkommens unterliegt das inverkehrsetzen der Art den ciTES-Bedingungen, die zwin - gend eine individuelle Kennzeichnung des Einzelexemplars vorschreiben. in der vorliegenden untersuchung wurden für die dauer eines Jahres in regelmäßigen Zeitabständen Fotografien der Tiere angefertigt. ihre Wiedererkennbarkeit auf zeitlich aufeinanderfolgenden Aufnahmen wurde durch die Wahrscheinlichkeit korrekter individueller Zuordnung mithilfe der Bilderkennungssoftware Salamacula überprüft. ABSTrAcT The changes in the individual colorpattern of 36 larvae and young of Neurergus kaiseri K. P. SchmidT , 1952, during ontogenesis were studied for the period of one year. constancy of the markings could warrant reliable indi - vidual recognition by photodocumentation in place of invasive tagging methods (e.g., microchipping), which are potentially harmful to small urodelans. Neurergus kaiseri was added to Appendix 1 of the “convention on inter - national Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” on June 23, 2010. This is why trading this species is subject to the terms of ciTES’s regulations, which implies individual recognition of each specimen. in this study, animals were photographed in regular time intervals during one year. recognizability of indi - vidual newts on consecutive photographs was tested by the probability of correct assignment using the image recognition software Salamacula. KEyWordS Amphibia: caudata: Salamandridae; Neurergus kaiseri , individual recognition, photodocumentation, devel - opment of markings, colorpattern, patterning, morphology, ontogenesis iNTroducTioN The Lurestan Newt Neurergus kaiseri distinguished from other members of the K. P. SchmidT , 1952, which is subject to genus by its relatively small body size some commercial pet trade, was listed in (maximum total length 12-14 cm) and its Appendix i of the “convention on inter - typical black-and-white pattern (Fig. 1). it national Trade in Endangered Species of is the only urodelean species known to have Wild Fauna and Flora” (ciTES) on June 23, a high proportion of pure white coloration. 2010 (Anonymous 2010). Accordingly, This may represent an adaptation to the trading of this species underlies ciTES reg - strong solar radiation at its breeding sites ulations, which requires individual recogni - (SchuLTSchiK & S TEiNFArTZ 1996 ). There tion of captive specimens. are some red-orange components of the col - Neurergus kaiseri is a newt endemic oration that vary in their intensity depending to the southern Zagros mountains of west - on individual, age, season and diet. ern iran, possibly to be found in adjacent in spring, the animals arrive at streams iraq or Turkey ( FroST 2011). The species is and creeks to mate and spawn but are rarely 4 m. K ALiNA & G. S chuLTSchiK seen the rest of the year, as they probably PhiLLoTT 2007; h EArd et al 2008; SchLuEP- remain in the highly branched subterranean mANN & K uPFEr 2009 ). in various urode - cave system of the Zagros karst to avoid the lan species, for example Ichthyosaura extreme surface temperatures (0-40 °c) and alpestris (LAurENTi , 1768) , Triturus dobro - the aridity during most of the year. gicus (K i riTZEScu , 1903) , Triturus cristatus due to its adaptability, rearing this (LAurENTi , 1768) , Lissotriton helveticus species does not present major technical (r AZoumoW SKy , 1789) and Salamandra sa - challenges as it is one of the easiest species laman dr a (L iN NAEuS , 1758) the constancy to keep in terraria. The animals can be fed of the color-pattern markings constitutes a with various bloodworms, earthworms, helpful instrument for individual identifica - Artemia , Daphnia , Drosophila and other tion over longer periods of time ( hAGSTröm commonly available food items. As op - 1973; h oNEGGEr 1979; G LANdT 1980; A B- posed to other species of the genus, N. BuEhL & d urrEr 1993; J EhLE 1997; h ENLE kaiseri also accepts non-living food (pel - et al. 1997; c ArAFA & B ioNdi 2004; m AT- lets), pointing to an olfactory orientation Thé et al. 2008; c oSTA et al. 2009 ). To during feeding, evidencing a troglophilic determine whether the dorsal patterns of N. life habit (S chmidTLEr & S chmidTLEr kaiseri individuals are sufficiently stable 1975; S chuLTSchiK & S TEiNFArTZ 1997; and unique to constitute a practical instru - SchuLTSchiK & K ArBE 2012) . ment for individual recognition, this project As invasive tagging methods, such as focused on the development of the mark - microchips, have potential animal welfare ings during the period of body growth of implications ( ArNTZEN et al 1999, 2003; the larvae and juveniles. Particular aim SchLuEPmANN & K uPFEr 2009) in animals was to determine (i) whether or not, and if of this small size (maximum total length 12- so (ii) from which time (developmental 14 cm), the task was to find a practical, yet stage) on or (iii) to what degree the mark - technically simple alternative among the ings of an individual remain constant and methods known (e.g., ELmBErG 1989; can be used as a feature to distinguish indi - SiNSch 1992; S EidEL et al 1996; h ENLE et al. vidual animals, with the help of photodocu - 1997; dAViS & o VASKA 2001; m uThS 2003; mentation. mATEriALS ANd mEThodS Study material.- Thirty-six plus tificate), holding and breeding (e.g., temper - 20 (control) larvae of Neurergus kaiseri ature, lighting, size of basin, feeding, clean - entered the study; dead specimens (n = 6) ness) were observed in all points (S chuLT- were replaced with animals from the con - SchiK & K ArBE 2012). The larvae were held trols. The animals, representatives of three in groups of 12 animals each in three initial - age classes (viz. 1, 2 and 3.5 months old), ly uncovered study boxes (100 cm x 50 cm x stemmed from three different captive breed - 30 cm) containing 24 L of water each. At the ing stocks from Germany (F2/2010), the beginning of the investigations, the larvae czech republic (F3/2010) and Austria were aged 1 month (Box A), somewhat over (F1/2010). metamorphosis in the larval 2 months (Box B) and approx. 3.5 months stocks started on 8 march, 2010 (F2/2010), (Box c). (Table 2). The water was cleaned 31 January, 2010 (F3/2010) and late de - and kept in circulation using motor-driven cember, 2009 (F1/2010) (Table 1). Larval internal filters. Every week, about 1/3 of the staging followed GroSSE (2012). volume was exchanged with fresh water. Study period.- monitoring the pat - Vienna tap water with a total hardness of 12- tern began on April 26, 2010 and ended on 14 °dGh and a ph-value of slightly over 7.0 may 5, 2011, during which the animals were was used. Within the above boxes, each photographed in regular intervals. individual was kept in a small, numbered, rearing design.- The legal regu - individual box (14 cm x 7 cm x 5 cm) that lations of trade (ciTES), acquisition (cer - was open to the surrounding water via mesh- development and constancy of the markings in Neurergus kaiseri K. P. SchmidT , 1952 5 Fig. 1: Neurergus kaiseri K. P. SchmidT , 1952 (animal #38) in dorsal aspect. Abb. 1: Neurergus kaiseri K. P. SchmidT , 1952 (Tier Nr. 38) in dorsalansicht. covered openings to avoid inter-individual ing conditions at a time (temperature range effects and ensure equal conditions for all from 16 °c to 25 °c over the course of the larvae. year, natural photoperiod, no artificial light - Beyond the boxes for the study speci - ing). Food was available ad libitum for every mens, two additional identical boxes housed animal (chironomidae larvae, Tubifex , control individuals (20 larvae of the F3/2010 Daphnia , enchytraeids). in a daily morning stock). These individuals were raised with - routine, faeces and untouched food were out the experimental compartment system in removed using suction cleaning. After order to determine whether the experimental metamorphosis, the newts tried to escape setting influenced the newts and perhaps the from their individual boxes. Therefore, at development of markings (Fig. 2). that point (the time differed depending on All five boxes were placed in the same the individual developmental situation), the room under subequal temperature and light - animals were kept in groups of five in a Fig. 2: caging conditions for the 36 larvae in the containers “A”, “B” and “c” as well as the control individuals in boxes “1” and “2”. Abb. 2: Aufbau zur haltung der 36 Larven in den Becken “A”, “B” und “c” sowie die Vergleichstiere in den Boxen “ 1” und “2”. 6 m. K ALiNA & G. S chuLTSchiK Fig. 3: camera set-up for photodocumentation including dSLr camera (Nikon d3000), lens (AF-S micro Nikkor 105 mm), flash unit (not shown) and tripod with tripod head (manfrotto 410). Abb. 3: Aufbau zur Fotodokumentation: digitale Spiegelreflexkamera (Nikon d3000), objektiv (AF-S micro Nikkor 105 mm), Blitzsystem (nicht abgebildet) , Stativ mit Kopf (manfrotto 410). common 24 L box without partitions under individual animal to be examined at defined aquatic conditions and the possibility to intervals. At intervals of seven days, each leave the water by climbing a perforated specimen was photographed from dorsal in brick (Table 3). a naturally outstretched position three times The long study period of one year and in succession. This triplicate effort was the sensitivity of the small larvae and juve - adopted to ensure suitable photographs, as niles were an animal rearing challenge.