The Effects of Thermal and Hydric Environments on Incubating Eggs and Hatchlings of The Grass Lizard,Takydromus septentrionalis

Pliable-shelled eggs of Takydromus septentrionalis increased in wet mass over the incubation due to absorbing water from the substrate.The levels of substrate moisture significantly influenced final masses of the eggs incubated at 26 and 28℃.Eggs gained more mass in wetter substrates than in drier substrates.In contrast to those at 26 and 28℃,final masses of the eggs incubated at 24℃ were independent of the level of substrate moisture.Due to the positive relationship between final and initial egg masses seen in all cases,variations in final egg mass could be partly explained by the variation in initial egg mass.Within the range from 24 to 32℃,incubation temperature significantly influenced duration of incubation,hatching success,and size,mass,and sprint speed of hatchlings,with the eggs incubated at 24 and 26℃ exhibiting higher hatching successes and producing larger,heavier,and faster-running hatchlings.Within the range from -220 to 0 kPa,incubation hydric environments had no impacts on duration of incubation,hatching success,and size,mass,and sprint speed of hatchlings.Incubation thermal and hydric environments did not determine sex in T.septentrionalis.