Mon Prof Augmenté
Warm Sand, Cool Sand
Age 12 · Biology
A crocodile egg’s sex is decided while it incubates, not by chromosomes like in mammals. Eggs in a warm nest often hatch as males, and eggs in a cooler nest often hatch as females.
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In the picture
- Red heat waves above the left tray
- An egg in the left tray
- Blue cool waves above the right tray
- An egg in the right tray
- The broad-snouted crocodile head silhouette
Examples
- A nest dug in sun-baked sand stays warmer than one in the shade of a riverbank.
- Sea turtle eggs in warm beach sand mostly hatch as females.
Key takeaways
- Crocodile sex is set by nest temperature, not by chromosomes.
- A few degrees warmer or cooler during incubation can change whether the hatchling is male or female.
Quiz: Warm Sand, Cool Sand (Age 12)
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What decides whether a crocodile egg develops as male or female?
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How is sex determination in crocodiles different from mammals?
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If crocodile eggs are kept in a cooler nest, what are they more likely to become?
The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.
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