Biawak - International Varanid Interest Group

Biawak 2007 Vol. 1 No. 127Figure 2. Twin embryos.Figure 3. Packaging of twin embryos inside the eggdizygotic. Judging from the physical condition of each individual, the first three embryos had likely diedshortly before dissection of the eggs, based on the lack of decomposition, and fluidity within each egg. Thetwin embryos had clearly died several days before dissection of the egg, as the skin of both individualshad begun to deteriorate, and the contents of the egg smelled foully. The inner membrane of the egg wasdesiccated, and the dorsum of each twin was fused to the interior of the egg shell. The cause of deathsis unknown, although incubation difficulties resulting in late-term deaths were also experienced in bothprevious and subsequent clutches laid by the same female V. macraei, suggesting flaws in the incubationtechnique.Table 1. Clutch MeasurementsEgg # Mass (g) Length (cm) Width (cm)1 11.3 4.5 2.22 11.3 4.3 2.13 11.3 4.4 2.24 11.3 4.5 2.05* 11.3 4.4 2.1* indicates egg containing twinsTable 2. Late-Term Embryo MeasurementsNo. SVL (cm) TL (cm) Total Length (cm)1 8.1 12.8 20.92 8.5 13.6 22.13 8.2 12.9 21.14* 7.2 10.1 17.35* 7.5 10.6 18.1* indicates twin embryos