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Morphology of shells from viable and nonviable eggs of the chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis )
Author(s) -
Wink Carole S.,
Elsey Ruth M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1052220110
Subject(s) - alligator , american alligator , biology , eggshell , anatomy , morphology (biology) , shell (structure) , zoology , ecology , materials science , composite material
The morphology of eggshells from hatched eggs of captive Chinese alligators ( Alligator sinensis ) was compared with that of shells from eggs with early embryonic death and with the morphology of eggshells from the American alligator ( Alligator mississipiensisis ). Pieces of shells were examined in the scanning electron microscope. Parameters examined included: numbers of open pores on the outer surfaces, total shell thickness, and thickness of the outer densely calcified and inner mammillary layers. Results indicate that shells from Chinese and American alligator eggs with early embryonic death have a thicker outer densely calcified layer than do shells from hatched eggs or full‐term embryos. Also, eggshells from Chinese alligator eggs with dead embryos have fewer open pores on the outer surface than do shells from hatched eggs, as has been reported earlier for the American alligator (Wink et al., '90). © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.