Characteristics of the litter of the gidgee skink, Egernia stokesii

Abstract

The viviparous birth of Egernia stokesii, an Australian skink, is described. Data from 29 litters over three years from a population near Hawker, South Australia, are presented. Females produced an average 5.07 young per litter in February or March. Litters were produced over an average 2.8 days. Newborn juveniles weighed an average 8.15 g and had an average snout-vent length of 6.73 cm. Juveniles in larger litters were smaller, when the effect of the size of the mother was taken into account. The average relative clutch mass was 16.5% when the weight of the litter was taken as a proportion of mass of gravid female, or 20.1% considering mass of post-partum female. The data are discussed in the context of life-history patterns of Australian skinks.