The Effects of Thermal Environments on Duration of Incubation, Hatching Success and Hatchlings Traits in a Colubrid Snake, Rhabdophis tigrinus lateralis (Boie)
Abstract:We incubated Rhabdophis tigrinus lateralis eggs laid by 12 females at constant (24, 27, 30, and 33 ℃) and fluctuating (mean = 26.1 ℃, range=20 1~32 7 ℃) temperatures to assess the effects of thermal environments on incubation length, hatching success, and hatchling traits. Eggs were incubated at the same moisture level (2 g water / 1 g vermiculite; producing approximately\|12 kPa water potential in different thermal environments in plastic containers (250mm×180mm×70mm) that were covered with a perfora...