Cold torpor, diapause, delayed hatching and aestivation in reptiles and birds

摘要: Introduction This chapter considers temporary suspension of active development within the oviposited eggs reptiles and birds. These various processes appear to be ‘natural’ adaptive; however, much study about them has occurred in laboratory. As presently known, all reptilian avian embryos have advanced blastulae or beyond (Bellairs, Chapter 23). In many, perhaps all, turtles embryonic becomes arrested as a late gastrula oviducts resumes normally only after oviposition (Ewert, 1985). lizards, developmental arrest may occur few cases, e.g. Sceloporus jarrovi, which is ovoviviparous (Goldberg, 1971), but these must very rare (Shine, 1983, The egg Tuatara ( Sphenodon punctatus ) laid at an early stage, turtles, whether this stage also associated with pre-ovipositional unknown (Moffat, snakes, crocodilians birds, unlikely (Ferguson, 1985; Blackburn & Evans, 1986; Lance, 1987). After oviposition, many species can divided into periods differentiation growth relative inactivity, when time passes there little change. Such prolongations grouped 1) cold torpor, 2) diapause, 3) delayed hatching, grades aestivation some reptiles. A previous survey topics 1985) focuses on gives reference lizards other vertebrates.