Most reptiles lay between one and two hundred eggs at a time. Amphibians lay thousands of eggs at a time. What is the adaptive advantage that reptiles have that allows them to lay fewer eggs at a time on land?
2007-05-30 03:11:01 · 6 answers · asked by Taylor l 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
I'm guessing it's because many land reptiles remain with their eggs to guard them, while most water reptiles do not. Since the eggs are better-protected, there is no need for the huge numbers that water-living reptiles must lay to statistically assure that at least SOME survive to maturity.
2007-05-30 03:20:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most reptiles lay a LOT fewer than 200 eggs, more like a dozen or so.
The main difference between reptile eggs and amphibian eggs is that reptile eggs have a miniature 'ocean' inside them and they are mostly waterproof while anmphibian eggs must be laid in a way that keeps them wet.
In practice this has many ramifications:
- reptiles can HIDE their eggs to reduce predation
- reptile eggs are more capable of surviving droughts and change
- the baby reptile can stay in the egg longer since it is more self contained- it has more food, etc. in it. Amphibians use up the available food supply much more quickly so must finish developing outside the egg.
The rule of thumb is the longer in the egg or womb, the more developed the baby is. The more developed, the more independent and successful. Reptiles can take 20 to 350 (usually 30-60) days to hatch, compared to just a few days for an amphibian egg.
2007-05-30 04:10:12 · answer #2 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
oops read the question wrong. I haven't seen many reptiles lay a hundred eggs at a time... but meh not the point. Anphibs are more sensitive to enviromental change... that and everything eats them. More young means more chance of survival. BUT there are some anphibs that only have 2-4 young. I can't rember what it is but I think it migh be a kind of mentalla or dart. Normally something on the bottom of the food chain will reproduce faster... kinda like mice
2007-05-30 03:24:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not all reptiles are egg-layers. Boa constrictors, rattlesnakes, and garter snakes are just a few of the live bearing snakes. Benefit for reptiles is that eggs are self contained, and allow the snake to place them in locations with adequate moisture and leave them in some instances to hunt etc. Since you brought about evolution, birds and reptiles are very closely related. The more evolved snakes are egg layers so the benefit to snakes to lay eggs is not that great, which is why some have evolved give live birth.
2016-04-01 04:47:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is based on the principle of evolution.
accordingly the number of offsprings decline as we move from protozoans towards mammals.
also the eggs of amphibians are in quite danger from predators in the water body and moreover as they do not have a protective covering, their chances of developing into adult decreases.
so the amphibians lay greater number of eggs to increase the survival rate of the offsprings.
2007-05-30 03:40:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no idea
2007-05-30 03:16:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋