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Really interesting story. I noticed this part though...

"Some researchers have suggested the transition from egg-laying to live-birth might not be as difficult as it initially appears.

Some skinks, they argue, simply retain the egg in the uterus for a longer period of time to protect it from colder external temperatures. The longer the egg is kept in the uterus, the thinner the shell becomes. When a skink is born live, all that remains of the shell is a thin membrane, which the mother helps the baby break open."

If this is true then they really are not giving birth, just holding the eggs in longer so it seems that way. Also it said the higher ones do this more than the lower ones, I wonder what kind of predator is lower or how much colder it is higher that might make them want to keep the eggs inside them longer.

Either way, its very cool

thanks for posting.

<blockquote data-quote="Pandora" data-source="post: 143834" data-attributes="member: 1040">Really interesting story.&nbsp; I noticed this part though...&quot;Some researchers have suggested the transition from egg-laying to live-birth might not be as difficult as it initially appears.Some skinks, they argue, simply retain the egg in the uterus for a longer period of time to protect it from colder external temperatures. The longer the egg is kept in the uterus, the thinner the shell becomes. When a skink is born live, all that remains of the shell is a thin membrane, which the mother helps the baby break open.&quot;If this is true then they really are not giving birth, just holding the eggs in longer so it seems that way.&nbsp;&nbsp; Also it said the higher ones do this more than the lower ones, I wonder what kind of predator is lower or how much colder it is higher that might make them want to keep the eggs inside them longer.Either way, its very coolthanks for posting.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Pandora, post: 143834, member: 1040"] Really interesting story. I noticed this part though... "Some researchers have suggested the transition from egg-laying to live-birth might not be as difficult as it initially appears. Some skinks, they argue, simply retain the egg in the uterus for a longer period of time to protect it from colder external temperatures. The longer the egg is kept in the uterus, the thinner the shell becomes. When a skink is born live, all that remains of the shell is a thin membrane, which the mother helps the baby break open." If this is true then they really are not giving birth, just holding the eggs in longer so it seems that way. Also it said the higher ones do this more than the lower ones, I wonder what kind of predator is lower or how much colder it is higher that might make them want to keep the eggs inside them longer. Either way, its very cool thanks for posting. [/QUOTE]

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