Natural breeding thread

[Perris]

I also think most reptile eggs are buried and guarded rather than sat on.

This behaviour has also been documented in some birds, the megapodes. Most popular of those would probably be the Australian Bushturkey.

I am currently reading something that includes discussion of this. The dinosaur lines closely related to birds typically buried their eggs. Oviraptor dinosaurs in China (specifically, Heyuannia huangi) evolved open nests of the style now seen with the ratites (the long legged flightless birds like ostrich, emu etc.). Ratites and the tinamous incubate in large communal nests, some of which are incubated principally by the males btw (e.g. tinamou, rheas).

Crocodiles, alligators and gharials have a common ancestor with birds. Turtles are related one stage further back, while the lizards and snakes split off yet another stage back. Does anyone know, do they all bury their eggs? i.e. was it only the dinosaurs and birds that kept/developed nests above ground?

 

[Skyeknight]

Does anyone know, do they all bury their eggs? i.e. was it only the dinosaurs and birds that kept/developed nests above ground?

Right off the bat I can tell you no, they don't all bury their eggs. Just like the megapodes within birds there are exceptions in reptiles. In biology there are always exceptions which makes it so interesting! In the Netherlands for example we have a lizard, the viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara), that gives live birth to their young. And then there is also what exactly falls under burying. There is a difference between using sand or leaves for example. I think some reptiles also use holes/burrows or simple exposed dips in the ground and some use cracks in rocks and probably buildings. It wouldn't suprise me if tree trunks are also used. Reptiles consist of an incredibly versatile group. As long as the eggs can stay warm there is probably a reptile that uses that way to hatch eggs.

 

[redinator]

Right off the bat I can tell you no, they don't all bury their eggs. Just like the megapodes within birds there are exceptions in reptiles. In biology there are always exceptions which makes it so interesting! In the Netherlands for example we have a lizard, the viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara), that gives live birth to their young. And then there is also what exactly falls under burying. There is a difference between using sand or leaves for example. I think some reptiles also use holes/burrows or simple exposed dips in the ground and some use cracks in rocks and probably buildings. It wouldn't suprise me if tree trunks are also used. Reptiles consist of an incredibly versatile group. As long as the eggs can stay warm there is probably a reptile that uses that way to hatch eggs.

I did not mean to cause this thread about broody hens to take such a detour, lol. Maybe these posts should be moved to a different forum? How do we move posts, or does a moderator have to do it?

 

[fluffycrow]

Right off the bat I can tell you no, they don't all bury their eggs. Just like the megapodes within birds there are exceptions in reptiles. In biology there are always exceptions which makes it so interesting!

Indeed! The blue tongue skink for example is ovoviviparous. So, not exactly an egg laying reptile.

I think some reptiles also use holes/burrows or simple exposed dips in the ground and some use cracks in rocks and probably buildings. It wouldn't suprise me if tree trunks are also used.

If I’m not mistaken, most New Caledonian geckos lay their eggs (which are adhesive) above ground, as they are mostly tree dwelling reptiles.

Not to mention most pythons, that lay a clutch of eggs that they incubate and protect themselves. TOMTE might be able to help us out even more, since I believe they have reptiles.

As fun as this discussion is, redinator is not wrong in pointing out that we gone slightly off topic. Hopefully BDutch is a merciful thread host

 

[Skyeknight]

As fun as this discussion is, redinator is not wrong in pointing out that we gone slightly off topic.

Somehow this seems to happen to me a lot

I did find out that crocodilians do actively care for their young, even though they do bury their eggs. So if it didn't evolve multiple times, chickens could have about 235 millions years of mother instinct in them. Hopefully that brings it back on topic