What Fahrenheit temperature is used for incubating alligator eggs by producers?

• A. 75
• B. 88
• C. 95
• D. 68

Answer: (B)

Alligator eggs rely on incubation temperature to determine the sex of the hatchlings, a phenomenon known as temperature-dependent sex determination. In production settings, 88°F is used because it sits near the pivotal temperature that provides reliable hatch viability while biasing the sex ratio toward males, which producers often aim for in commercial operations. Temperatures higher than this tend to produce more males, while cooler temperatures favor females, so 88°F is chosen as a practical middle ground to achieve predictable results. The eggs generally hatch after a couple of months, with stable, properly moistened incubation conditions critical for success.