String of pearls

[Clay Davenport]

I've produced a fair number of eggs over the years, but have never seen anything like this.
This clutch of cornsnake eggs was laid last night. each egg was connected to the next with a fine thread of shell, looking just like a string of pearls.
I had to clip the connecting shell between them to transfer them to the incubation container.
Has anyone else ever seen this happen with a clutch of eggs?

The last of them is pictured below still in the laying box.

http://www.arbreptiles.com/corns/eggs1.jpg

http://www.arbreptiles.com/corns/eggs2.jpg

[WebSlave]

Yes, it is not at all unusual. I tend to clip them all as it makes it very difficult to pick them up that way. I have no idea why some turn out that way, however.

[jmconnel]

That's awesome. I had never heard of them doing that.

[Clay Davenport]

I thought it was pretty neat. Never had any laid like that in my collection before.
I talked to a friend today who had also seen it in colubrids, but couldn't remember the species.
Odd how i've never heard of it or seen anything in print on it.

I figured if it was anything like a common occurance you would have seen it Rich, given the number of clutches you see annually.

[Darin Chappell]

None of my clutches have ever come out that way, but I did know it happens. Kathy Love has a section on it with a corresponding picture on her website.

Do you suppose it has something to do with an excess of calcium (or whatever mineral) deposition in the egg shell making process? It would be interesting to know.