The only split scute hatchling I had was a hatchling from one of the two nests that I missed in the Summer of 2014.
I'm just like Jacqui, i find them to be beautiful and attractive. I really really want one with split scutes!!! I even have a name ~ ScooterIt is usually viewed as an "imperfection".
Some people, especially Jacqui, sees split scutes as beautiful and unique.
It is really a cosmetic thing, and unless high incubation temperatures produced some sort of unseen internal malformation, it should have no effect on their health.
Would like to hear your experience/opinions from multi clutch hatches. Purely from incubation temps or does genetics play a role? What has been your experience?
I have had some radical swings in temps this past summer due to how hot it was outside.....but 25 eggs on one tray only 2 hatched with extra scute, (same female who throws out babies with this visual occurrence)....eggs on same tray 1/4" - 1/2" spaced ...no problem and symmetrical.@N2TORTS : Since you first wrote this thread, I've had another extra scute experience. I had a clutch of YF eggs in the incubator in a little plastic container with perlite as the medium. I had the incubator set at 87F but it went up or down a point or two throughout the period. Three of the 7 eggs hatched out with an extra marginal scute.
Hi Jeff.I have had some radical swings in temps this past summer due to how hot it was outside.....but 25 eggs on one tray only 2 hatched with extra scute, (same female who throws out babies with this visual occurrence)....eggs on same tray 1/4" - 1/2" spaced ...no problem and symmetrical.
Some interesting observations/reads can be seen here.
(Don't forget to read the references at the bottom as there are other great articles too!)
ISRN Zoology
Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 846136, 13 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.5402/2012/846136
Research Article
Interspecific Variation in Temperature Effects on Embryonic Metabolism and Development in Turtles
Thanks Carl.Anyfoot, in answer to your question about split or extra scutes (called supernumerary) occurring in wild caught tortoises, yes!
I have found numerous wild striped mud turtles, eastern mud turtles, box turtles and Barbour's map turtles that possessed supernumerary scutes. Barbour's map turtles are especially prone to this condition. It may be that because the females are utilizing spoil islands in the Apalachicola River Basin to nest on their eggs are exposed to higher temps.
Not every wild female tortoise (or turtle) nests in an ideal site.
I've also seen a number of wild caught imported tortoises with perfect zig-zag or zipper patterns to their vertebral scutes.
Eric Holt, who incubates literally thousands of turtle and tortoise eggs every year tells me that low, or fluctuating humidity during incubation can result in split scutes. I would believe him in this matter.
You got me thinking now Carl.Anyfoot, in answer to your question about split or extra scutes (called supernumerary) occurring in wild caught tortoises, yes!
I have found numerous wild striped mud turtles, eastern mud turtles, box turtles and Barbour's map turtles that possessed supernumerary scutes. Barbour's map turtles are especially prone to this condition. It may be that because the females are utilizing spoil islands in the Apalachicola River Basin to nest on their eggs are exposed to higher temps.
Not every wild female tortoise (or turtle) nests in an ideal site.
I've also seen a number of wild caught imported tortoises with perfect zig-zag or zipper patterns to their vertebral scutes.
Eric Holt, who incubates literally thousands of turtle and tortoise eggs every year tells me that low, or fluctuating humidity during incubation can result in split scutes. I would believe him in this matter.
Does anyone have any males with extra/split scutes?
PhotoI have a male elongated with split scutes.
Cool, he's sprawled out just enjoying life.