Study

An artificial nest chamber for captive Crotaphytus collaris that increases clutch success and promotes natural behaviour

  • Published source details Santoyo-Brito E., Anderson M.L. & Fox S.F. (2012) An artificial nest chamber for captive Crotaphytus collaris that increases clutch success and promotes natural behaviour. Herpetological Review, 43, 430-432.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Maintain wild-caught, gravid females in captivity during gestation

Action Link
Reptile Conservation

Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Lizards

Action Link
Reptile Conservation
  1. Maintain wild-caught, gravid females in captivity during gestation

    A replicated study in 2011 in laboratory conditions in Oklahoma, USA (Santoyo-Brito et al. 2012) found that all wild gravid female eastern collared lizards Crotaphytus collaris brought into captivity laid eggs, but that only eggs laid inside artificial nests hatched. All 17 wild-caught gravid female eastern collared lizards laid eggs in captivity (one clutch/individual, 5–9 eggs/clutch). Twelve lizards laid eggs inside artificial nest chambers (74 total eggs) and these eggs had a 62% hatching success (46 of 74 eggs hatched). Five lizards laid eggs outside of artificial nest chambers (29 total eggs) and none of these eggs hatched (23 eggs were desiccated when found after being laid and six eggs became mouldy during incubation). Seventeen gravid female lizards were caught in the Glass Mountains and moved to a laboratory where they were housed individually in partitioned wooden and metal-mesh cages. Each cage section (80 x 40 x 40 cm) contained gravel substrate, artificial lighting and an artificial nest made from bricks and sand/peat moss (see original paper for details). Lizards were fed and watered regularly. Eggs were moved for artificial incubation within 16 hours of being laid and adult lizards were returned to their capture site.

    (Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)

  2. Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Lizards

    A replicated study in 2011 in laboratory conditions in Oklahoma, USA (Santoyo-Brito et al. 2012) found that some artificially incubated eggs from wild-caught, gravid female eastern collared lizards Crotaphytus collaris that laid eggs in captivity hatched successfully, but only eggs that were laid inside artificial nests hatched. All 17 wild-caught gravid female eastern collared lizards laid eggs in captivity (one clutch/individual, 5–9 eggs/clutch). Twelve lizards laid eggs inside artificial nest chambers (74 total eggs) and these eggs had a 62% hatching success after artificial incubation (46 of 74 eggs hatched). Five lizards laid eggs outside of artificial nest chambers (29 total eggs) and none of these eggs hatched after artificial incubation (23 eggs were desiccated when found after being laid and six eggs became mouldy during incubation). Seventeen gravid female lizards were caught in the Glass Mountains and moved to a laboratory where they were housed individually in partitioned wooden and metal-mesh cages. Each cage section (80 x 40 x 40 cm) contained gravel substrate, artificial lighting and an artificial nest made from bricks and sand/peat moss (see original paper for details). Lizards were fed and watered regularly. Eggs were moved for artificial incubation within 16 hours of being laid and adult lizards were returned to their capture site.

    (Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)

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