Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Eggshell Removal On Embryonic Skeletal Development In The American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis), Nelson Armando Membreno

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The eggshell of reptiles is essential for not only protecting the embryo, but can also serve as source of calcium for embryonic skeletal development. Whereas embryonic lepidosaurs and chelonians rely on their yolk sac for calcium during development, embryonic archosaurs mobilise eggshell calcium supply to both the embryo and the yolk sac. By the time archosaurs hatch, their residual yolk sacs have a calcium content equal or greater than at time of oviposition, which is used to support post-hatching growth. To date, no study has looked into how removal of the calcareous eggshell affects embryonic development in archosaurs. I tested …