Mathematical progression of avian egg shape with associated area and volume determinations

Development of nondestructive techniques for estimating egg parameters requires a comprehensive approach based on mathematical theory. Basic properties used to solve theoretical and applied problems in this respect are volume (V) and surface area (S). There are respective formulae for calculating V and S of spherical, ellipsoidal, and ovoid eggs in classical egg geometry; however, the mathematical description and calculation of these parameters for pyriform eggs have remained elusive. In the present study, we derived the appropriate formulae and established that this would be not only applicable and valid for the category of pyriform eggs, but also universal and explicit for all other naturally occurring avian egg shapes. Thus, we have demonstrated mathematical progression of this natural object, considering the egg as a sequence of geometric figures that transform from one to another in the following sequence of shapes: sphere -> ellipsoid -> ovoid (whose profile corresponds to Hugelschaffer's model) -> pyriform ovoid.

Automated summary

The development of nondestructive techniques for estimating egg parameters requires a comprehensive approach based on mathematical theory. In this study, appropriate formulae were derived for calculating the parameters of pear-shaped eggs and other naturally occurring avian egg shapes.