On an abnormal egg of the Turtle, Lepidochelys Olivacea (Eeschscholtz) with observations on hatching of the eggs

Abstract

An abnormal egg, more or less dumb-bell shaped (Fig. 1) was noticed in a batch of about 120 turtle eggs collected from the beach at Vedalai near Mandapam (Gulf of Mannar) on 28-10-1959. On subsequent hatching it was found that they were of Lepidochelys olivacea olivacea (Esch.). The two eggs in union were unequal, measuring 36 mm. and 33 mm. in diameter and 26 mm. at the place of union ; the long axis being 72 mm. The normal eggs are spherical (Fig. 2), 40- 41 mm. in diameter.