Unfertilized eggs of Lepidochelys olivacea were examined for elemental composition and structure of the eggshell and mineral contents of the yolk-albumen fraction. Calcium was the major inorganic component both in the eggshell and egg contents. Other elements were present in traces. Scanning electron microscopic study revealed that the eggshell had two layers: an outer calcareous matrix in its aragonite morph and a membrane layer with fibres. The calcareous layer was made up of loosely and irregularly arranged 10–40 µm wide nodular shell units. The shell thickness was 125 to 150 µm. The membrane fibres were less dense, less netted than their normal counterparts and of variable thickness. The composition and structure of unfertilized eggshell were more or less similar to those reported for their normal counterparts except for the arrangement of fibres in the membrane layer.
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1 June 2010
Chemical Composition and Ultrastructure of Shells of Unfertilized Eggs of Olive Ridley Turtles, Lepidochelys olivacea
Gunanidhi Sahoo,
Birendra K. Mohapatra,
Sushil K. Dutta
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calcareous matrix
eggshell mineral contents
membrane fibres
scanning electron microscopy
yolk-albumen fraction