New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Incubation regime affects juvenile morphology and hatching success, but not sex, of the oviparous lizard Oligosoma suteri (Lacertilia: Scincidae)
K. M. Hare*†
C. H. Daugherty
School of Biological Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
P.O. Box 600
Wellington, New Zealand
†Author for correspondence.
A. Cree
Department of Zoology
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
*Present address: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand. Email: kelly.hare@vuw.ac.nz
Abstract We studied the effects of different artificial incubation regimes on the hatching success, morphology, and sex of hatchlings of New Zealand’s only endemic egg-laying skink, Oligosoma suteri (Boulenger, 1906). Eggs were randomly distributed among three constant incubation temperatures (18, 22, and 26°C) and two water potentials (–120 and –270 kPa). Hatching success and hatchling survival were greatest at 22 and 26°C. Hatchlings from 18°C incubation had low survival, morphological abnormalities of the limbs, and atypical colouration. Water potential did not influence hatchling survival, morphology, or sex. Equal sex ratios were found at all incubation regimes indicating that sex determination in O. suteri is genetic, not temperature-dependent.
Keywords New Zealand; Oligosoma suteri; Scincidae; reptile; incubation regime; incubation period; sex determination; maternal influence; sex ratio
Z01035 Received 10 October 2001; accepted 11 April 2002; published 9 September 2002
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2002, Vol. 29: 221–229
0301–4223/02/2903–0221 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002
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