Term
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Definition
Reliant on external sources of heat – limited production from metabolism
bask in sun
Pineal gland detects light levels |
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Term
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Definition
| environmental temperature |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| Thermoregulation Mechanisms |
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Definition
Heart Rate and Blood Shunting
Body Mass and Shape
Behaviour
Ultraviolet light important for normal behaviour |
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Term
| 3 layers of reptile integument |
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Definition
Stratum germinatum
Intermediate lipid-rich
Stratum corneum – keratinised scales |
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Term
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Definition
Shedding of skin
Controlled by thyroid gland
Whole skin (snakes) v. patches (lizards)
New skin develops from intermediate layer of epidermis
Requires some humidity and rubbing surfaces (snakes) |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
Protective, osmotic and respiratory functions
Mucous glands maintain moisture
Vital for respiratory function
Poison glands largely dorsal
No true scales, but some areas of epidermal thickening |
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Term
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Definition
Generally lack haversian bone system
Healing much slower than mammals
Bone ~99% of body calcium
Optimal Ca:P ratio 2:1
Metabolic bone disease (nutritional osteodystrophy) develops with incorrect Ca:P ratios (diet rich in meat/insects, herbivorous) |
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Term
| Reptile and Amphibian Cardiovasculature |
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Definition
3-chambered heart: 2 atria, Single ventricle supplying lungs and body
Blood volume ~5-8% of body weight, <10% can be sampled safely
Erythrocytes: Nucleated
Lysed by EDTA!! Better taken into Lithium Heparin
Large lymphatic networks with smooth muscle |
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Term
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Definition
No Diaphragm
Negative pressure breathing
Inspiration, Expiration and Relaxation/Breath-holding phases
Relaxation 30min-33h |
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Term
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Definition
Larvae – Gills
Adult gas exchange: Simple paired lungs, Buccopharyngeal, External cutaneous, Cannot create negative pressure
Force air in by contractions of throat muscles |
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Term
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Definition
Rate of digestion related to temperature
Stops <7oC |
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Term
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Definition
Water in through environment, diet and drinking
Water lost through evaporation, respiration, urine and faeces |
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Term
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Definition
Uric acid – pasty white excretion
Cloacal resorption
Reduced GFR
Salt Glands – active excretion of Na+/K+
Renal Portal System – renal portal vein (from system venous system) passes blood directly to kidney tubule (bypassing glomerulus) |
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Term
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Definition
Kidneys in caudal coelom
No loop of Henle, pyramids or pelvis
Bladder only in chelonians and some lizards
Others: ureters open into cloaca directly, with reflux into colon for water absorption |
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Term
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Definition
Preferred Optimal Temperature Zone
Species, age and season dependant
Determined by metabolic processes
e.g. optimal digestion temp varies from gametogenesis temp |
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Term
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Definition
It needs to be placed at a distance of 20-30 cm from the animal
filtered by glass, plastic and small mesh netting |
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Term
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Definition
Crocodilia
Spenodontia
Squamata: snakes and lizards
Testudines: terrapins and tortoises |
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Term
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Definition
longer tail and cloaca positioned distally near the tip of the tail
Plastron concavity
Terrapins: also longer nails |
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Term
| Female features for sexing |
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Definition
| shorter tail and cloaca close to the body |
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Term
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Definition
average temperature should be 28°C
basking light: 32°- 35° C
cold end: 25°C.
night difference should be < 5° C |
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Term
| Common Turtle/Tortoise Species |
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Definition
Hermann’s tortoise: Testudo Hermanni
Spur-thighed tortoise: Testudo graeca
Horsfield’s tortoise: Testudo horsfieldii
African spurred tortoise: Geochelone sulcata
Red eared terrapin: Trachemys scripta elegans |
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Term
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Definition
Boa constrictor: Boa constrictor
Royal python: Phyton regius
Corn snakes: Elaphe spp |
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Term
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Definition
Male have a longer and wider tail
Boids have larger spurs
Sexing by probing: males length of 6 – 12 scales, females length of 4 – 6 scales |
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Term
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Definition
Bearded dragon: Pogona vitticeps
Veiled chameleon: Chamaeleo calyptratus
Leopard gecko: Eublepharius macularis
Green iguana: Iguana iguana |
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Term
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Definition
Male: femoral pores are more prominent
Two hemipenis situated in the tail base
Female: less prominent femoral pores
Less bright colours |
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Term
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Definition
| Chameleons don’t recognize standing water as a drinking source. They can only drink from moving or dripping water |
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Term
| Reptile Husbnadry Related Issues |
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Definition
Dysecdysis
Metabolic bone disease
Hepatic lipidosis
Follicular and egg stasis
Periodontal disease |
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Term
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Definition
Anura: Frogs and Toads
Caudata: Salamanders, Newts and Sirens
Gymnophiona: Caecilians |
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Term
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Definition
Leopard frog: Rana pipeins
Poison dart frog: Dendrobates spp
African clawed frog: Xenopus laevis
Fire-bellied Toad: Bombina orientalis
Pacman frog: Ceratophrys cranwelli |
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Term
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Definition
Tiger salamander: Ambystoma tigrinum
Axolotl: Ambystoma mexicanum
Fired bellied newt: Cynops orientalis
Eastern newt: Notophthalmus viridescens |
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Term
| Amphibian Common Husbandry Problems |
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Definition
Skin trauma due to handling
Parasites
Hypovitaminosis A
Metabolic bone disease
Anorexia
F.b. ingestion |
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