Effects of Incubation Temperature on the Size of Caiman Latirostris (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae) at Hatching and after One Year

• DOI: 10.1670/0022-1511(2007)41[205:eoitot]2.0.co;2
• Publication Date: 2007-06-01T22:01:32Z
• Authors: Carlos I. Piña; Alejandro Larriera; MarlÍn Medina; Grahame J. W. Webb
• Keywords: Hatchling; Egg incubation; Avian clutch size

We investigated the effects of incubation temperature (29°C, 31°C, and 33°C) on total length (TL) body mass (BM) Caiman latirostris, a crocodilian with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), at hatching (N = 180) in sample hatchlings 40) after one year raising. Size was strongly clutch-specific. Animals incubated 31°C (100% females) were larger than 29°C female) 33°C males). Absolute growth to higher for females (eggs 31°C) males 33°C). The possibility that constant had compromised embryological development cannot be rejected. If so, it confirms high temperatures can have long-lasting posthatching growth. not, possible advantages growing more rapidly are discussed.