Amphibians

Question 1

anura

Answer 1

without tails
frogs and toads

Question 2

frogs vs toads

Answer 2

frogs have protective mucoid skin
toads are terrestrial, drier, have thick “warty skin”, have mucus and poison glands

Question 3

which frog is most commonly used in biomedical research?

Answer 3

African clawed frog

Question 4

caudata

Answer 4

with tails
salamanders and newts

Question 5

salmanders

Answer 5

used for limb regeneration studies
some like axolotls retain their larval state their whole life (neotony)

Question 6

gymnophiona

Answer 6

limbless, wormlike
caecilians

Question 7

life cycle

Answer 7

metamorphosis —> air breathing adult
ex: egg —> larval —> tadpole with gills —> air breathing frogs and toads

Question 8

respiratory system

Answer 8

gills
terrestrials have lung structure (simple air sacs)
no diaphragm, use intercostal muscle and limb movement to pull chest up and out
skin surface can be used for gas exchange: can use MS-222 or isoflurane absorbed by skin for anesthesia

Question 9

excreting waste

Answer 9

aquatics excrete ammonia as waste like fish through gills if present or through skin if they don’t have gills
terrestrials: main waste is urea through primitive kidneys

Question 10

oviparous

Answer 10

lay eggs (spawn) that are fertilized outside of the body
most amphibians are oviparous
some salamanders are viviparous: birth live young

Question 11

amphibian blood cells

Answer 11

fragile, albumin helps stabilize cell membranes

Question 12

diagnostics

Answer 12

parasitology: cestodes, trematodes, nematodes, protozoans
- soaking and medicated baths are a common treatment for parasites
phlebotomy: ventral abdominal vein, ventral coccygeal vein, lingual plexus

Question 13

what is the most common cause of health conditions?

Answer 13

husbandry related issues

Question 14

metabolic bone disease (MBD)

Answer 14

rubber jaw
combination of poor nutrition (high phosphorus/low calcium and low vitamin D)
could be caused by kidney disease and inadequate UVB which leads to low vitamin D and calcium

Question 15

bacterial dermatosepticemia

Answer 15

“red leg” or “pink belly”
most commonly aeromonas bacteria from poor husbandry and stress

Question 16

chytridiomycosis fungal infection

Answer 16

rough, irregular lesions
most serious fungal disease
major contributor to threat of extinction
caused by saprolegnia water mold: white cottony growth

Question 17

what is another amphibian fungal infection?

Answer 17

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Question 18

husbandry: ectothermic

Answer 18

too hot = anorectic/agitated
too cold = lethargy/bloating

Question 19

husbandry: diet

Answer 19

store brought frogs may have never encountered a cricket so they may experience extreme stress, trauma, and starvation
big frogs eat mouse/rat pups
may need to gut load prey with supplements

Question 20

husbandry: lighting/humidity

Answer 20

full spectrum lighting
humidity: de-chlorinated waters, sphagnum moss, hygrometers

Question 21

husbandry: substrate

Answer 21

preferred: cage carpeting, astroturf, newspaper, shelf-paper
most particulate has disadvantages: sand, gravel, walnut, wood, calcisand - causes obstructions, nutritional deficiencies, underheating, dehydration, inappropriate UV

Question 22

steatitis

Answer 22

inflammation of fatty tissue
caused by vitamin E deficiency, rodents stored too long, fed only 1 diet type

Question 23

herbivore diet

Answer 23

supplement with betacarotine

Question 24

insectivore diet

Answer 24

dust/gut load
healthy, well-fed bugs
supplement calcium

Question 25

carnivore diet

Answer 25

whole prey items, preferred not live prey, supplement with betacarotine (pigment in colorful veggies, precursor of vitamin A), supplement calcium
prey should be no bigger than biggest part of amphibians’ body

Question 26

young prey

Answer 26

called pinkies
young bones, less calcium

Question 27

feeding schedule

Answer 27

juvies: about 2x a week
adults: 1-2x a week
larger species: monthly

Question 28

anorexia

Answer 28

is a clinical sign of disease