| Abstract: | Successful hatching of large numbers of artificially incubated eggs from the green iguana, Iguana iguana, are reported. Gravid females were captured at a nesting site in Summit Gardens, Soberania, Parque Nacional, Panama, and released into an enclosure with an artificial nesting area. Females dug their own tunnels and nest chambers or used artificial nest chambers for egg deposition. Eggs (n = 829) from 21 clutches were removed from the nests and artificially incubated. Average hatching success per clutch was 94.6% and the mean clutch incubation time was 92.1 days. A distinct odor was noticed in the incubation containers several days before the eggs began to hatch. At this time, the substrate layer was removed exposing the top surface of all eggs, and the eggs desiccated to some degree prior to hatching. High incubation temperature, hydric conditions, and egg arrangement are all implicated as contributing factors in low hatching success in previous studies using artificial incubation techniques. |
