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Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

C/A Biometric Analysis for additional assessment of Gender for Scincidae species: Corucia zebrata

Brian-SFCRC Jul 20, 2003 09:05 AM

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location: LEE/1.

HI FLAVIA!

This is for you. I hope it helps, my friend.

C/A BIOMETRIC ANALYSIS FOR ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF GENDER OF SCINCIDAE SPECIES: Corucia zebrata (Schnirel-2002)

The C/A Biometric Method..(C=Caput-head) (A=Ambitus-girth or more accurately, -Mid Section Diameter) is a ratio based on head diameter at the widest point over the mid-section diameter over the widest point.

As one can see, it is not the head size that counts, it is the ratio. In Adult Corucia's head diameter- males range from 41-46mm in diameter. Females-42-45mm in diameter-not much difference. In the C/A measurements, adult Corucia males range from .79-.98. Adult females range from .57-.73- a noticable difference! If a C/A measurement is .75 or more, chances are good you have a male. Head size alone is not reliable. Probing and inverting the hemipenes is indeterminate-that causes much pain an a angry bite from a Corucia is a new definition of PAIN! They cut slice through a fingernail like a knife through butter! We are working with Dr. Anthony Herrell on Corucia Jaw Strength. It is our consenses of opinion that Corucia zebrata had a Gastropodivorous ancestry as indicated by the strongly developed ligamentous sheet and and the weakly developed Quadratojugal ligament. This give Corucia zebrata it's extreme concentrated biting power (ie. cracking land snail shells).

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

Replies (17)

Flavia Guimaraes Jul 20, 2003 11:04 AM

But i m afraid i dont have courage to measure his/her head right now.Well, i dont want to discover how powerful his/her jaws are. But do you think they are more powerful than an iguana bite?Ive been bitten by my 8 years old male iguana recently (he is in his breeding season) and ...well...it hurt!

He/she is around 20 inches (the whole body).Does that mean something?

Brian-SFCRC Jul 20, 2003 07:36 PM

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location: LEE/1.

Flavia,

Hi, It tells me you have an adult only. But...... the wonderful thing about the C/A Biometric Ratio is that..It is a ratio. So, If you can post a pic (Top view looking down) of your Corucia, I can measure it from that and give you an estimate.

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

Flavia Guimaraes Jul 20, 2003 09:18 PM

Well, here is Leonardo. My son gave him this name because he thinks it looks just like a Ninja Turtle.LOL!
What do you think? By the photo can you tell me its age and gender? Its around 20 inches, it is eating well, it is quite sweet and im sure it is the pet that i wanted to keep me company during the night, while im watching tv!lol!

Flavia Guimaraes Jul 20, 2003 09:19 PM

Another photo of Leonardo.

Brian-SFCRC Jul 20, 2003 11:56 PM

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location LEE/1.

Flavia,

Leonardo is a Beautiful Corucia and the pics are great However... To answer your question, I need a view from above looking down at him/her. Get a good complete shot of the head and body and I'll do the rest.

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

Brian-SFCRC Jul 21, 2003 12:05 AM

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location LEE/1.

Flavia,

How's the weather in Malaysia? How are your other Lizards doing?
Did your sick Ig fully recover? It has been hot and humid but rainwise unusually dry. It rained during an air mass Thunderstorm today but being in the height of the wet season, it's far from what we need.

Thanks again for all your help earlier in the year.

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

Flavia Guimaraes Jul 21, 2003 11:14 AM

Its very hot and raining.The temp is around 90-92!The level of humidity must be around 1000%!lol!
My ig is going well, look at the photos BEFORE and AFTER!
Thanks for your help too!

Flavia Guimaraes Jul 21, 2003 11:27 AM

Look how thin he was

Flavia Guimaraes Jul 21, 2003 11:29 AM

My sweet baby now is fat like a whale!lol!

Brian-SFCRC Jul 21, 2003 09:56 PM

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location: LEE/1.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE! You are to be congratulated! An excellent job!

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

Brian-SFCRC Jul 21, 2003 09:45 PM

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location: LEE/1.

Flavia,

He looks like #6 did here (The Ig I told you about here at the time) Thanks for showing the pics.

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

jess b Jul 21, 2003 12:40 AM

I am intrigued- so here are the ratios of my known PTS
Gertie (LTC female) .70 180/254
Chip (LTC little head male) .83 152/182
Archie (CB 6yr big block head male) .91 173/190
so that fits

Here's the unknown's
Jenny (CB 2.5 year old sub adult- no guess on gender) .86 140/162
Louise (LTC I think is male) .84 164/195
Thelma (LTC I think is female) .77 148/191
by the ratio, these would all be males :P
I think Thelma is gravid, will be checking this week with ultrasound.

Candy (CB 2.5 yr) and Bletcher (CB 1 yr) evaded me.
cheers, Jess b

Brian-SFCRC Jul 21, 2003 07:18 AM

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location: LEE/1.

Hi Jess,

Thanks for writing. There are often no absolutes in this world, Corucia sex determination amoung them. The C/A Biometric Ratio is largely accurate method but as stated previously, should be used as a back-up assessment of gender-not as a catch-all. Although based on skeletal width, A Corucia extremely malenourished or bloated would affect the results with this method if not taken into account or mismeasured. (That is not to say you did any mismeasurements yourself.)

You are to be admired. At any SFCRC location, none of our Corucia females ever produced twin Neonates.

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

Brian-SFCRC Jul 21, 2003 07:18 AM

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location: LEE/1.

Hi Jess,

Thanks for writing. There are often no absolutes in this world, Corucia sex determination amoung them. The C/A Biometric Ratio is largely accurate method but as stated previously, should be used as a back-up assessment of gender-not as a catch-all. Although based on skeletal width, A Corucia extremely malenourished or bloated would affect the results with this method if not taken into account or mismeasured. (That is not to say you did any mismeasurements yourself.)

You are to be admired. At any SFCRC location, none of our Corucia females ever produced twin Neonates.

Sincerely,
Brian
SFCRC

jess b Jul 21, 2003 12:39 PM

Question- are you measuring diameter or width? I measured diameters.
Thanks for the praise, but I attribute most of the ability to produce twins to Gertie's large size and probable age. She reminds me of Flo the chimpanzee- older experienced battle scarred mom with high reproductive success. Gertie is a big girl, with lots of evidence of past breeding on her skin over her neck and pelvis. She gets nutritious food, adequate space, heat and humidity here- so hopefully she can continue having healthy little PTS.

My secret ingredient is fresh branches with mulberry leaves on a weekly basis during the spring and summer. They can eat in a very natural manner- climbing through the branches, hanging vertical while eating, and eating the entire leaf encluding the stem- LOTS of heavy fiber for GI health. They start with the newest greenest leaves at the branch end, then work down.
cheers, Jess b

Brian-SFCRC Jul 21, 2003 09:51 PM

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location: LEE/1.

Hi Jess,

The answer is width.

Thank you for sharing your Corucia experiences with mulberry branches. If We ever get access to any, I will definately try it.

Thanks again,

Brian
SFCRC

jess b Jul 25, 2003 12:54 AM

Thelma is definitely a female- she has a little PTS in her uterus.
yay! Jess b

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