【摘要】 1.我国古代早在商周时期,即对此项动物加以记载,下至晋唐,都曾有记述,包括分布、形态和生态诸方面。综合辨考前人记载鼍及其近种的分布,是在今日的湖北、山西、广西、广东、安徽、福建、江苏、江西和当时邻国柬埔寨等地。 2.动物的栖息地为河流、湖泊、丘陵山涧的河漫滩的芦苇及竹林丛中。调查地包括了安徽省、江西省沿江的河漫滩及属於黄山天目山的青弋江、渲河、青山河的下游和芜湖、南陵、宣城、泾县、当涂、高淳、宁国、郎溪诸县。时间是1951年,1954年,1956年2—10月间。 3.据据39尾鼍的标本测定,其雌雄的外形性徵差异不显著,但其所营穴窟却有显著的两性相异形式。二者均包括有洞身和各种不同的洞口,适於进出、呼吸等用。 4.雌性个体异穴分居。 5.动物每年4月初开始出洞活动,6月间配偶,7月初至8月中旬筑巢产卵,在在6—8月间最为活动,10月下旬开始入蛰休眠。 6.动物在竹林芦苇田中筑巢,取材枯叶、杂草、乾枯稻草和菱白叶。体长92.1厘米者,巢中的卵数20。卵长59毫米,径34毫米,围110毫米,卵重43克,壳重3.75克。 7.动物昼伏夜出,风雨之夜概不出洞。最热季节,日中当大气气温31—35℃、湿度40—48°时,曝晒於水面。更多还原

【Abstract】 This paper deals with ecology and part of the Life history of the Chinese alligator. In making the investigation, the auther has paid visits to the Lower Yangtze basin and its adjacent territory during February-October in 1951, 1954, and 1956 in south Anhwei.The Chinese alligator inhabits the alluvial plain. During the growth and development of river, there are two seasonal periods in a year. The rainy season covering from April to October, and the dry season from October to March of the next year. During the dry season, one side of a broad sand swamp is an artifial dam, while the opposite is the natural bank, which may be gradually destroyed by the current in the rainy season year after year.During the rainy season, the water level is higher which serve as a shelter to the hidden alligator.The Chinese alligator is not only found along the basin of the lower Yangtze River, but also in south Anhwei districts along Chin-I-Kiang and Cheun-Ho River system. The plain is always sunk down by the tide, its surface being usually covered by a harder mud. A lot of burrows are distributed here and there. Each burrow has seveal holes. It is seaier to find out such burrows in the fall and winter, because the reeds are then cropped.Investigations showed that there were two types of burrows with respect to the sex of the alligator found inside. The male burrow is a simple tunnel with two openings, while the female’s is more complicated.A longitudinal section of the female’s burrow shows that the burrow is somewhat like a three-storied building. The differences in the level of diggings are considered as adaptations to different water levels.The following table presents burrow types in sexual diamorphism.The changes of water levels of the alluvial plain of definite regional river system may be related, according to our field examination, to the period of the animal’s hibernation. The burrowed creature is coiled underground in 2m. deep during the winter season. The types of the burrows may be shown in the following table:In the wet season, the water level is about 8m. deep, just reaching.the surface of plain. This fact indicates that water is essential to the animal in the regulation of its physiological processes.The alligator mates in May and June, nesting at the end of June, laying The words "Doors’’ and "Windows" adopted here are taken to indicate the various openings of the nests of the alligators.eggs in the July and August. The eggs measure 59 mm. in diameter. The shell is very hard, being ashy white in colour.The head and body length of the breeding adults as well as the number of eggs found in females may be given in following table:Other observations on the night movement during the breeding period may be shown as follows:更多还原