Sexual dimorphism, female reproductive characteristics and egg incubation in an oviparous forest skink (Sphenomorphus incognitus) from South China
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Published source details
Ma L., Pei J., Zhou C., Du Y., Ji X. & Shen W. (2018) Sexual dimorphism, female reproductive characteristics and egg incubation in an oviparous forest skink (Sphenomorphus incognitus) from South China. Asian Herpetological Research, 9, 119-128.
Published source details Ma L., Pei J., Zhou C., Du Y., Ji X. & Shen W. (2018) Sexual dimorphism, female reproductive characteristics and egg incubation in an oviparous forest skink (Sphenomorphus incognitus) from South China. Asian Herpetological Research, 9, 119-128.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Lizards Action Link |
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Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Lizards
A replicated, randomized study in 2013–2015 in south China (Ma et al. 2018) found that artificially incubating forest skink Sphenomorphus incognitus eggs at different temperatures did not affect hatching success or hatchling morphology, but that higher temperatures resulted in shorter incubation periods. Hatching success did not change significantly at different incubation temperatures (69% at 22°C; 77% at 25°C; 82 % at 28°C) or when incubation temperature fluctuated around an average of 25°C (3°C fluctuation: 79%; 5°C fluctuation: 64%). Five measures of morphology were also similar at different incubation temperatures (see paper for details). Average incubation period varied between 76 days at 22°C and 40 days at 28°C. In 2013–2015, twenty-seven wild, gravid female skinks were collected and housed in individual plastic cages (540 x 400 x 320 mm) with a substrate of moist soil at 20–28°C. A total of 136 eggs were incubated in individual, covered plastic jars (50 ml) with moist vermiculite. Eggs from each clutch were divided equally between three constant temperature treatments (13 eggs at 22°C, 26 at 25°C, 11 at 28°C) and two treatments that fluctuated around an average of 25°C (28 eggs at 3°C fluctuation, 25 at 5°C fluctuation).
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
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