Wink Carole S, Elsey Ruth M, Bouvier Marianne
Department of Anatomy, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Grand Chenier, Louisiana 70654.
J Morphol. 1990 May;204(2):227-233. doi: 10.1002/jmor.1052040210.
The morphology of the eggshell of the alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, is similar to that of birds. In many avian species there is a positive linear correlation between the numbers of pores and mammillae on the inner surfaces of eggshells, indicating that the distribution and density of mammillae may determine the porosity of the shell. It is not known, however, if a relationship exists between pores and mammillae on the shell of the alligator. Using a scanning electron microscope, we counted pores and mammillae on the inner surfaces of pieces of shell from the middle of fertile and infertile eggs from wild and captive, pen-reared alligators. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Duncan's multiple range tests and linear regression equations. Results demonstrate a positive linear correlation between the numbers of pores and mammillae on the shells of unincubated fertile and infertile eggs from wild and captive alligators; however, there is no correlation between pores and mammillae on shells of eggs that were incubated for 55 days. It is suggested that initially the porosity of the eggshell of the alligator is related to the density of mammillae on the inner surface of the shell and that erosion of the shell during incubation destroys the original relationship between pores and mammillae.
密西西比鳄的蛋壳形态与鸟类相似。在许多鸟类物种中，蛋壳内表面的气孔数量与乳突数量之间存在正线性相关，这表明乳突的分布和密度可能决定了蛋壳的孔隙率。然而，目前尚不清楚密西西比鳄蛋壳上的气孔与乳突之间是否存在关系。我们使用扫描电子显微镜，对来自野生和人工饲养的圈养密西西比鳄的可育和不育卵中部的蛋壳碎片内表面的气孔和乳突进行了计数。数据通过方差分析、邓肯多重范围检验和线性回归方程进行分析。结果表明，来自野生和圈养密西西比鳄的未孵化的可育和不育卵的蛋壳上，气孔数量与乳突数量之间存在正线性相关；然而，孵化55天的卵的蛋壳上，气孔与乳突之间没有相关性。研究表明，最初密西西比鳄蛋壳的孔隙率与蛋壳内表面乳突的密度有关，并且孵化过程中蛋壳的侵蚀破坏了气孔与乳突之间的原始关系。
