scute abnormalities

[Julie]

Julie

March 20, 2001 at 10:24 am #14625

I just need a confrmation that scute abnormalities is not genetic and is temperature influenced. The two hatchlings from the second bacth are so tiny and one has major scute abnormalities. I am hoping they will turn out a little better as they grow. Julie Tougas

[Macrospilota]

Macrospilota

March 20, 2001 at 1:14 pm #14627

Scute anomalies are not typically genetic, I believe they are caused by temperature peaks during the latter half of incubation. Scott

[John P. Levell]

John P. Levell

March 20, 2001 at 3:10 pm #14628

It is widely believed that subdivided scutes and other scute pattern abnormalities are attributable to incubation conditions (specifically non-variable or constant incubation temperatures), although I am not aware of any specific studies and/or publications on the topic. Of possible interest, while rare I have observed extra scutes on occasion in wild Blanding’s Turtles here in Minnesota. Frequency is extremely low (somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 or 4 per 1000 animals) but this would seem to indicate that other factors may play a role in these types of shell abnormalities as well. Just some thoughts which may prove helpful – John John P. Levell NorthStar Herpetological Associates – Turtle and Tortoise Book Shop emys@…

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