v1i1.11

ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v1i1.11

Submitted date: 03 January 2009
Accepted date: 05 January 2009
Published date: 06 April 2009
Pp. 63–65

NOTES ON EX-SITU INCUBATION AND HATCHLINGS OF Eutropis carinata (SCHNEIDER, 1801) (REPTILIA : SCINCIDAE) FROM SRI LANKA

Thilina P. Walikanna & D.M.S. Suranjan Karunarathna*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: dmsameera@gmail.com

Eutropis carinata is widely distributed skink in Sri Lanka. This observation describes ex-situ incubation and hatching of this species at Colombo district in Sri Lanka. In total, 25 eggs with two adults of E. carinata were located from a termite mound while some villagers where trying to kill a cobra (Naja naja) living in the mound. Of these skink eggs, 20 were successfully incubated. The incubation period was 30 days from the date eggs were collected. The average incubation temperature varied from 26–28°C. Mean egg length was 15.6 mm and mean egg width 10.4 mm. Mean hatchling SVL was 28.5 mm and mean TL is 41.3 mm. The mean weight of hatchlings was ~3 g and the mean total length is 69.8 mm. After about five days, hatchlings were released at the original place of the clutch.