Measurements on Near Term Corucia Fetus







Brian L. Schnirel and Sherri Lee Jones

Leeway Corucia Research Center (LCRC)

Blenheim, South Carolina, 29516





Abstract:





Measurements on a stillborn Corucia fetus (Common Solomon



Monkey Skink - Corucia zebrata zebrata (underlined) were



undertaken to gain a perspective of development of this unique



and endangered Scincidae species.





Introduction:



Corucia zebrata (underlined), a large herbivorous



Scincidid lizard capable of viviparous matrotrophy, occasionally



produces miscarrages. The reason for these miscarrages could be



natural,for on the one hand, no one has properly researched



Corucia zebrata (underlined) in it's natural habitat. However,



many zoos, research institutions, and private individuals have



had 100% success rate with this species. If captive aspects of



possible miscarrage causes are to be addressed, the questions of



whether environmental or genetic factors play a role are a topic



for further research. Measurements on stillborn Corucia young



may, in some way, help address those questions or, at the



very least, give a perspective of the development process of



this livebearing species.





Research:



A near term stillborn fetus, with placenta and umbilical



cord intact, was studied and measured (Father - LCRC/Czz/31,



Mother - LCRC/Czz/34). This individual was near full term,



approximately age 6.5 -7 months out of a 7.5 month gestation



period.





Weight:



Umbilical Cord and Placental Sack (completely intact):



28.35 Grams





Fetal Weight (minus Umbilical Cord and Placental Sack):



48.19 Grams





Length Measurements:





SVL (Snout To Vent Length):



125 mm.



LOA (Length Overall):



255 mm.





Discussion:



The placental attachment, as indicated, shows a



substantional proportion of weight in the Corucia pregnancy



approximately 37% of total weight).



Corucia zebrata (underlined), in the latter stages of fetal



development, seems to indicate that this



species develops faster in growth in the tail region than in



the torso or SVL. Further measurements in this area with



stillborn young can strengthen this assessment. This is based



on an average of 39 newborn neonates (Schnirel-Jones, 2006).



Measurements are: SVL = 135 mm, LOA = 289 mm



Common Solomon Monkey Skink - Corucia zebrata zebrata



underlined). SVL = 170 mm, LOA = 370 mm ( North Solomon Monkey



Skink - Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti (underlined). Also, a



stillborn North solomon Monkey Skink - Corucia zebrata



alfredschmidti (underlined), also showed the shortened tail as



this was also a stillborn not at full development (Father -



LCRC/Cza/6, Mother - LCRC/CZA/3). The Common Solomon Monkey



Skink - Corucia zebrata zebrata (underlined), shows from the



data above, a 10 mm increase in the SVL and a 34 mm increase in



the LOA in the latter stages of pregnancy. This would seem to



indicate that the tail length accelerates quicker in growth



towards the end of the gestation period.





References:



Coburn, John; 1985. Prehensile tailed skinks.

T.F.H. Publications Inc.

Neptune City,New Jersey. 64

pages



DeVosjoli, Phillippe; 1993. The general care and

maintainence of prehensile

skinks. Advanced Vivarium

Systems Inc. Lakeside,

California, U.S.A. 57 pages.



Hausechild; Gabner; 1999. Corucia zebrata (underlined):

Der Wickleschwanz skink. Natur

and Tier, Munster, Germany 79

pages.



Jones, Sherri L.;

Schnirel, Brian L.; 2006. Subspecies comparison of the

Genus: Corucia. Polyphemos,

Volume 4, Issue 1, May,

Florence, South Carolina,

U.S.A. pp. 1-25.



Sincerely,

Brian L. Schnirel

LCRC

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