Turtle reproduction can be sticky
By kingsnake.com · February 8, 2013 1:41 pm
Turtle moms have a way to "freeze" the development of their eggs until conditions are right, according to a study published in The American Naturalist.
From LiveScience:
Pregnant turtles hit the pause button on their eggs' development until the time is just right to lay them in a nest, researchers say. The careful moms do this by producing a gooey substance in their reproductive tracts that cuts oxygen to the embryos, a study shows. Female turtles must be choosy about when and where they lay their delicate eggs to make sure food resources are available and environmental conditions are safe.Read the full story here!
