Maleo Eggs and the Amount of Yolk in Relation to Different Incubation Strategies in Megapodes

Abstract

Characteristics are presented on eggs of the maleo, Macrocephalon maleo, which are compared with data from other megapodes. Maleo eggs contain an extremely large amount of yolk which, on average, accounts for 61.9% of the egg contents weight, which is much higher than in eggs of the Australian brush-turkey, Alectura lathami (50.1%), and the malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata (52.6%). A higher yolk content leads to an elongation of the egg and a higher relative egg weight. The results suggest that eggs of burrow-nesting megapodes contain more yolk than eggs of mound-building species.