Observation and diversity on the egg-laying behavior and reproductive parameters of Ocadia sinensis

The egg-laying behavior of Chinese striped -necked turtle was observed and recorded in the condition of artificial environment in this paper. And the effect of temperature on the fecundity was explored at the same time. The egg-laying behavior was detected that the turtle liked to lay eggs in a high mound 21.148 (±6.943) cm (n=60) above egg-laying site plane. According to the inherent egg-laying behavior of Chinese striped-necked turtle, the whole nesting process was divided into six stages: stage I meaning selecting nest, stage Ⅱ meaning excavating egg chamber, stage Ⅲ meaning laying egg, stage IV meaning covering nest, stage V meaning protecting egg, and stage VI meaning re-entry water. Time taken by turtle for nesting in six stages was analyzed. The result showed that the relationship between stage Ⅲ and clutch size was significant. It indicated that the sum of average temperature of per month from December to February was positive correlative with the quantity of egg-laying in February (P<0.05) by analyzing the data of temperature and egg-laying of turtle in statistics from 2006 to 2011. The time egg-laying begins of the turtle population was controlled in those years by the sum of average temperature of per month from December to February. The time of egg-laying was positively correlated with the body weight, carapace length, numbers of egg and quality of the egg in Ocadia sinensis. A conclusion has been drawn that there was a positive relationship among them(P<0.001), indicating that this select-pressure could promote to obtain better offspring form O. sinensis.