A Comparative Study on the Microstructures, Mineral Content, and Mechanical Properties of Non-Avian Reptilian Eggshells.

ABSTRACT: We analyze 214 freshly laid eggs belonging to 16 species across three orders of Class Reptilia. Using mechanical compression tests, we measure each egg's absolute stiffness (K, unit: N m^-1) and relative stiffness (C number). The effective Young's modulus, E, was obtained by combining experimental and numerical methods. The mineral (CaCO₃) content was measured by acid-base titration, the microstructures by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the crystallography by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). We find that the C number of reptilian eggs is, on average, higher than that of bird eggs, indicating that reptilian eggs are stiffer with respect to the egg mass than birds. However, Young's moduli of the reptilian eggshells (32.85 ± 3.

SUBMITTER: Wu HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10215611 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature