Fungal diversity on broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) eggs, and their effects on hatchlings

Abstract

Studies describing and identifying mycobiota affecting the eggs of wild reptiles are rare, despite the potential importance of mycoses for the survival and performance of individuals and populations. The aim of this study was to identify the fungal species on eggshell and eggshell membranes of C. latirostris and to discover potential compositional changes between these two substrates. Twenty-four species of fungi were isolated from eggshells and 17 species were isolated from membranes; 10 species were shared between both substrates. Saprophytic fungi comprised 64.1% of eggshell and 59.4% of eggshell membranes mycobiota, respectively. Potentially pathogenic fungi occurred more frequently on the eggshell membrane (71.4%). From pathogenic assays we cannot conclude that fungi like Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum have a negative effect on hatching success, weight and snout-vent length of C. latirostris hatchlings.