Incubation of the Eggs of the Green Sea Turtle, Chelonia Mydas, in Torres Strait, Australia: the Effect of Movement on Hatchability.

Abstract

Of the eggs of green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in Torres Strait, Australia, 92% hatched when they were incubated artificially soon after being laid but only 68% when they were transported to other experimental turtle farms. Other eggs were experimentally rolled, i.e., rotated about their horizontal axis, at different times after being laid. Those rolled after 1, 3 or 6 h had 92% hatching rate; after 12 h, 88%; after 24 h, 48%; after 2 or 3 days, none; after 5 days, 4% increasing with the delay to 72% after 20 days delay between laying and rolling. If C. mydas eggs for a hatchery can not be moved to their final destination within 3 h, then they ought not to be moved until at least 20 days after being laid.