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Morphologicals characteristics of the ostrich eggshell

Morphological analysis of the ostrich eggshell is important because several factors can be related to morphological hatchability of eggs of this species in Brazil. Therefore, 60 samples of apparently normal eggs were analyzed (eggs hatched and with embryonic death). The observations were allowed to establish that: the average thickness of the eggshell, the porosity of the shell of the eggs, and correlate these variables with hatchability. The results were statistically analyzed by Duncan's test, which showed that eggs with less porosity also have a lower hatchability. The average porosity of hatched eggs is 19.87 pores/cm², and of eggs with embryonic death is pores/cm2 16.78. There was no statistical difference between the thickness of the shell in the regions studied, no interaction between viability and the regions studied.

Ostrich; eggshell; rind morphology; reproduction


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