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As a breeder I occasionally produce hatchling tortoises and various species that have the 4th or 5th vertebral scute split. Occasionally it appears on the side. I have always associated this cosmetic defect with the higher temperatures in the incubator and as most of us know higher temperatures, especially in the low 90's, will produce females.

I have run across different individuals in the past and more recently that have stated that this defect is not always associated with high temperatures, but also inherited from the parent.

Does anyone know if there is any merit to this statement? I have not found any data on the internet to support this.

-Ryan
Dallas, TX

Ryan,I have always woundered why only some of the hatchlings in a clutch have split/exrta scutes.If its temp.then wouldnt all of them have them.My incubator doesnt very in temps.inside a single box,so that isnt it eather.I was producing about 30% irregular scutes with one pair of Manouria.for years.I changed the male and had no split/extra scutes for several breedings now at the same temps.Their is also a weight and hue differents from the new male indicating a new sire.I have a female that has a gular that is offset to one side.Im expecting to see her offspring this year to see if that shows up.I do think you can get it from high temps. but its not always the case.You are right about people saying that high temps.is the cause,as if they know for sure.Its a well known urbin myth buy the goo-roos of cosmic taxonmy.The same folks that call intergrades, hybreds! Vic, owner of several zig-zag emys phayrei

There is a paper published in Europe that addresses. The sample size was very large. Like 20 females producing over 200 babies. All of the scute abnormalities matched one of the parents.

If high temp makes extra scutes then why dont all females have extra scutes?
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This guy just hatched two days ago. I have never seen anything like it. All three of the siblings are perfect with no extra scutes. I have a wild caught male with many extra scutes so I believe this to be genetic. Feel free to post any input you might have on this.

Very neat looking Redfoot. I had one hatch last year and it only had 1/2 the normal scutes of a typical tortoise. Meaning it had two on each side and 3 down the center.

At what temperature did this one hatch?

Also, can you supply a picture of the male with the split scutes.

Thanks,
Ryan

Here is my male. He is wild-caught so it is interesting a male would have extra scutes. You would think it would be a female.

Here's another pic of one of my adult female Redfoots with split scutes along the top.

I have a Hermanns with 4 scutes instead of 5. It was incubated to be female but is a male; a very horny male.

I've also got a small hermanns with an extremely deformed shell but have no idea how it was incubated.
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DeeCee

so look like splits plus splits=more splits?...