Bulletin n°180

A clutch of 15 eggs was recorded in a large female Montpellier snake (snout-vent length SVL 100cm, total length 130cm). In France, this represents the maximal value recorded for the species, but little information is available on the fecundity of this species. Pre-laying and post-laying maternal mass was respectively of 579g and 379g. On average, the eggs measured 38.8mm x 26.0mm and weighted 15.0g (note that the eggs were examined 1.5 day after laying, hence each absorbed approximately 1.7 g of water prior to measurements). Relative clutch mass was 50%.

Auteurs : Grégory DESO, Jean-Marie BALLOUARD, Aloys CROUZET, Sebastien CARON & Xavier BONNET