Amphibians & Reptiles Flashcards
What is Batrachotoxin
secretory glands on frog skin that are very toxic
2 grains of table salt size will kill a 150 lb person
What is an indicator species
A species whose presence, absence, or relative well-being in a given environment is indicative of the health of its ecosystem
Why are frogs an indicator species
permeable skin
amphibious lifestyle
complex life cycle
What are fire-bellied toads
common pet frog 2 inched long midly toxic aquatic enviroment lifespan 10-15 yrs
What are poison dart frogs
common pet frog
brightly coloured
have batrachotoxin
live 3-5 years
what are south American horned frogs
have horny skin (ceratophry) 2 inches long live 6-8 years pacman frog common pet frog
what are african clawed frogs
common pet frog
common in biomedical research
6 inches long live 15 years
what are tree frogs
common pet frog
nocturnal
what are bullfrogs
large frogs
deep voice croaks
9 inches long
live over 35 years
what are leopard frogs
found in USA and southern canada
3.5 inches long
live 5-8 years
what is a toad
have shorter thicker bodies with short legs and can not jump as far as frogs
can be pests
What is the Cane Toad
an invasive species of toad
eats both living & dead matter (voracious appetite)
highly poisonous
kills predators that eat it
What do cane toads do when threatened
turn so parotid glands face predator; toxin oozes from gland and secretes a fine spray at attackers
causes intense pain in humans and temporary blindness
causes fatal indirect poisoning; eating soup with contaminated cane toads will cause this
What does smooth skin on frogs do
absorbs water and electrolytes and helps absorb oxygen
skin must be kept moist
What are two skin glands of frogs
- Mucous glands secrete slimy coat
- Granular glands secrete:
- antimicrobials
- pheromeones
- analgesics
- toxins
what does the lateral line do
detects vibrations and changes current
what are the 3 types of adult frog
aquatic, semi-aquatic, terrestrial
what is the husbandry of frogs
enclosure should mimic natural habitat
like places to hide
water needs to be dechlorinated
cleaning supplies are toxic
frogs are ectothermic: need external heat
what is Redleg
a disease in frogs that is associated with poor nutrition, husbandry, over crowding, stress, fecal contaminated water, and spoiled food
common in wild caught species
what is Chytrid
a fungi that causes cotton-like tuff around a frogs mouth
leads to skin injury: loss of fluids and electrolyes & increased secondary bacterial infections
treatment: saltwater bath or benzalkonium chloride
what is Mycobacteriosis
granulomatous lesion throughout the body
potential zoonotic disease
can be fatal in immunosuppressed animals
what do parasites do to frogs
burrow under the skin; the skin will have an irregular appearance
prone to secondary bacterial infections
highly contagious in stressed frogs
What is Iridovirus
caused major death of frogs in asia and us
infects frogs & tadpoles
results in wart like lesions of skin that can ulcerate
leads to death
what is chlamydia psittaci (psitacosis of birds)
released into the enviroment by scared birds
infects frogs
leads to muscle loss, abdominal distension, reddening of skin
zoonotic: causes fatal pneumonia in people
What are 6 types of pet lizards
- Iguanas
- Bearded dragon
- Water dragon
- Anoles
- Skinks
- Gecko
What are two venomous lizards
- Gila monster
2, Beaded lizard
how many chambers do lizards hearts have
3
what do lizard tails do
lizards can ‘drop’ their tails as an escape mechanism. New tail will grow back but will be a different colour
What are 8 factors of lizard husbandry
- Housing
- need enclosures with tight lids
- needs places to hide
- pine & cedar shavings are toxic - Water
- needs fresh water daily - Temperature
- ectotherms
- need external heat to regulate body temp - humidity
- too wet: leads to dermatitis
- too dry: dehydrates skin - Light
- vitamin D synthesis; need full spectrum light bulb - cleaning
- reduces infection
- dilute bleach is good cleaning solution - Feeding
- Handling
- must support entire body
what is infectious stomatitis
‘mouth rot’ or inflammation of mouth
caused by: low temp, overcrowding, dirty cages, inappropriate diets
bacteria causes salmonella, E.coli, serratia, and pseudomonas
what is protozoal disease
affects body organs
causes: stop eating, bloody diarrhea, dehydration
turtles are carries and will be a source of infection of snakes and lizards
what are 3 infectious diseases in lizards
- Cryptosporidium saurophilum: severe emaciation, muscle loss, usually need to terminate lizard
- Coccidiosis: diarrhea and dehydration; affects young animals
- Adenovirus: muscle loss, weakness, dehydration
what is the first indication of secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism in iguanas
refuse to lift head and tail off the ground when walking
low calcium causes body to become soft
what are 3 venomous types of snakes
- Vipers
- Elapid
- Coubirds
what are six pet snakes
- Boas
- good breeders in captivity and tame quickly - Ball Pythons
- docile - Garter snakes
- King snakes
- Corn snakes
6, Hognose snake
what does the snake tongue do
it is forked
it detects chemical scents; has olfactory organ in root of mouth
what does the opening of the trachea allow snakes to do
to breath while holding prey
how many chambers do snake hearts have
3
what is the husbandry of snakes
- Hosuing
- enclosure with tight lids
- no free edges
- needs hiding space - Water
- needs large bowls so it can soak - Temperature
- ectotherms
- if snake gets cold it becomes obstipated - humidity
- feeding
- need to ensure proper diet - handling
- support body as much as possible
what is Inclusion body disease retrovirus
has significant mortality snakes have locomotion problems (star gazing) weight loss abnormal shedding pneumonia
what is Dysecdysis
abnormal shedding
what do Cryptodira turtles do
retract head with vertical S shape
what do Pleurodira turtles do
hold head in a sideways fashion
what is the difference between Aquatic turtles, Terrapins, and Tortoise
Aquatic: exclusively live in water except to lay eggs
Terrapins: move between land and water
Tortoise: Terrestrial animals; do not swim
factors of turtle biology
Chelonian shells: fused to vertebra and rib: bony plates covered by sac;es
hinges allow for flexibility in shell
turtles have no teeth: has a horny beak to tear off food
3 chamber heart
What is husbandry of Turtles
- Enclosure
- must fit turtle
- outdoor pens must be placed deeply
- need place to hide - Water
- needs deep water to swim
- needs to be changed frequently - Heat
- ectotherms
- too hot: turtle are stuporous
- too cold: turtles will hibernate - Humidity
- incorrect will lead to shedding scales & shell lesions - Light
needs full spectrum bulb - feeding
- most turtles are carnivorus
- terrapin: omnivorous
- tortoise: primarily herbivore
- aquatic: only eat in water - Handling
- grab back portion of shell
common diseases of turtles
- Metabolic Bone Disease
- Shell Fractures
- Vitamin A deficency
What causes respiratory tract infection in turtles
overcrowding
imporper temperature and humidity
Do all reptiles carry salmonella
they are all potential carriers of it
