Do wild leos incubate their eggs?

[curiousKathy]

All this talk about gravid behavior got me wondering about how the wild leos incubate their eggs. Does the female lay on them to keep them warm or does she bury them in the warm, moist soil until they hatch? After they are born does she mother them or are they on their own as soon as they hatch?

Just curious...

curiousKathy

 

[Scott&Nikki]

There was just a thread about this a couple days ago. Here ya go: http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=5268 . Short answer seems like they do not incubate their eggs.

 

[curiousKathy]

Sorry, I didn't think to check another topic thread for this subject...interesting that there is no maternal instincts, but several other animals are the same. I wonder what percentage of eggs laid actually hatch in the wild...

Can you tell I am a biologist/into science? <VBG>

curiousKathy

 

[Scott&Nikki]

That is a very good question. It would be very hard to tell I would think. I mean, I would say the two biggest threats would be weather and predators. If they have grown to learn where to safely lay their eggs, both could be prevented for the most part. However, because they do not stay with the eggs, they may not have a clue to where the "best spots" would be. My opinion would be that the biggest problem is hatchlings finding food and escaping predators. Animals always amaze us as to how smart they are about where to lay eggs and all that kinda stuff, so I could see a fairly good amount being able to hatch.

 

[MichaelJ]

Reptiles by enlarge do not care for their young the way mammals do. There are exceptions in both cases but as a general rule; No, they do not. From what I've read about wild behavior they will bury them if possible; but with how often they lay clutches many are not incubated. Mother nature takes care to make sure the species is carried on.