Two questions: 1-milky white eggs 2-sperm/eggs

[steve]

a couple of things i need cleared up (for today at least LOL)

1) I heard a "milky white" tint/look on a deposited egg is "bad", but I just read something that stated: if AIR gets trapped inside the gelatinous envelope, the egg sac turns white. Does this STILL suggest the egg is bad? ALSO: could this be only is the eggs are in CLUSTER form and not SINGLY LAID?

2) in internal fert. sallies: Does the sperm fertilize the egg while the FEMALE is still holding them (gravid) or DOES the egg get fertilized ON IT'S WAY OUT? I quote this reading again: "As the eggs pass out of the females cloaca, SPERMATOPHORES RUPTURE, fertilizing the eggs in each tiny mass."

help is appreciated and I hope this is of some interest if correct.

steve

 

[edward]

Hi Steve,
As for the milky/white eggs it depends upon the species in question. In spotted salamanders for example (A. maculatum) there are populations where the egg masses are milky in coloration and populations where the egg masses are clear. If the nucleous is white this is also common in many amphibians whose eggs are not exposed to light.
The spermatophore does not actually rupture as the cap is composed of polysaccharides that are dissolved in the cloaca allowing the sperm to be taken up into the spermatheca. The eggs are then fertilized upon deposition.
As I mentioned in my other post the book Biology of Amphibians would help you out alot.
Ed

 

[steve]

thanks ED, you seem to be the ANSWER man today, and tomorrow, LOL.


You in the UK?