The 'bigger the better' theory does not always work, especially with turtles. Justin Congdon of the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in South Caroline, USA, and his colleagues have found that medium-sized baby turtles have the best chances of reaching adulthood. Over two years, the researchers built fake nests which they filled with snapping turtle ( Chelydra serpentina ) eggs. The smallest hatchlings did badly, while both medium and large hatchlings had a similar chances but selection actually favours mid-sized ones. They may be leaving the nests with bigger yolk reserves and have better growth rates, believes Congdon ( New Scientist , Vol 164, No 2213).
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