Discussion: Circulus Relationships

Greetings,


The crocodilians are one the few reptiles that possess a Circulus (Reptilian social order). Corucia zebrata is a skink species that also shares this feature. A Corucia Circulus often consists of a single male and one of more females which guard the single, large neonate that is born by viviparious matrotrophy. One of the best examples of a strong Circulus with the crocodilians is the Gharial. Both male and female, plus more distant relatives, take great interest and care in protecting and nuturing young. Adults will often carry young on their back. Gharials cannot carry their young from the nest that they guard until hatching like others of their order due to their extremely sharp needle like teeth but guide them with their muzzle towards the water. In one case (Nature- George Page), a female left the male in charge of newly hatched young at the river's edge and spend hours trying to get a dead baby to crawl to the water.

Does anyone out there have additional insight on this topic that they wish to share?

Sincerely,
Brian
LCRC

Do you know what you are talking about???????????

I don't know what I am talking about.