title: Allometry of reproduction in broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris).
abstract: In the present study regression equations are established between broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) captive reproductive females snout-vent length (SVL) and body mass (BM) and the following clutch characteristics: egg mass, egg "length" (maximal diameter), egg "width" (minimal diameter), hatchling BM, hatchling SVL, clutch size (number of eggs), clutch mass and relative clutch mass (clutch mass/female BM). Female body-length presented a positive correlation with egg mass, egg length, egg width, hatchling BM and hatchling SVL. No clear correlation was found between female SVL and clutch size. Female BM showed a significantly positive correlation with egg mass, egg-length, egg-width, hatchling BM, hatchling SVL and clutch mass. A highly significant negative correlation was found between female BM and the relative clutch mass. No clear correlation was found between female BM and clutch size.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Ecologia Animal, ESALQ, USP, C.P. 09, CEP 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. lmv@carpa.ciagri.usp.br
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Verdade
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D010063:Ovum; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012098:Reproduction; D012727:Sex Characteristics