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Elephants Flashcards

1
Q

How many toenails does an Asian Elephant have?

A

5 front, 4 back

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2
Q

How many toenails does an African Elephant have?

A

4 front, 3 back

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3
Q

What teeth are the tusks associated with?

A

Maxillary incisors

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4
Q

What is Musth?

A

Period of high androgen/testosterone (20x normal) and increased aggression in males

*Not seasonal (so not call rut)

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5
Q

Where is testosterone produced in elephants?

A

Adrenals and peripheral sites, not testes

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6
Q

What placenta type do elephants have?

A

Endothelioochorial placenta (Terio)

Fowler C53 contradictory - Zonary epitheliochorial placentation and endotheliochorial

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7
Q

What is the primary progestin in elephants?

A

5-alpha reduced pregnane (NOT progresterone)

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8
Q

How is pregnancy maintained in elephans?

A

Progrestane in multiple CLs

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9
Q

How long before you can detect pregnancy in elephants?

A

10-12 weeks

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10
Q

What can be used to confirm pregnancy in elephants?

A

Fecal progresterone metabolites
Prolactin

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11
Q

African elephant species genus?

A

Loxodonta

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12
Q

Asian elephant species genus?

A

Elephas

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13
Q

What is the difference in tusks between Asian and African elephants?

A

Asian elephants = cows lack tusks (but can have tushes)

African elephants = both sexes have tusks

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14
Q

Define lophodont dentition

A

The unique pattern of elephants - ridges form perpendicular to the long axis of jaw bones (horizontal rather than vertical like most mammals)

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15
Q

What is the name of the unique apocrine gland of elephants?

A

Temporal gland

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16
Q

A new keeper reports that an elephant is showing excessive tear production of the eyes. What do you tell them?

A

Elephants lack a lacrimal punch/nasolacrimal system so tears will normally drain down the face and does not always imply ocular disease

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17
Q

T/F: Elephants are obligate nasal breathers.

A

False - can voluntarily breath through their mouth

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18
Q

Which species has a longer GIT?

A

Asian elephants

JZAR 7.1 (2019) Greene et al

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19
Q

T/F: Elephants produce bile acids.

A

False - bile alcohols

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20
Q

Do elephants have a gallbladder?

A

No

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21
Q

Fluid requirements in adult elephants?

A

30-50 mL/kg/day

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22
Q

List the accessory sex glands that male elephants possess

A

Prostate
Ampullae
Seminal vesicles
Bulbourethral gland

23
Q

(Day 2 Zoo)
What factors are associated with predicting testosterone in zoo-managed male African elephants (Loxodonta africana)?

A

Glucose:insulin ratio (+ association with testosterone)

Overweight (- assoc with testosterone)

Increased contact time direct and indirect (+ association with testosterone)

Indoor access only (- association with testosterone)

More browse offering (+ association with testosterone)

Zoo Bio 42.2 2023 Campbell et al

24
Q

(Day 2 Zoo)
During investigations of serum cortisol concentrations in African and Asian elephants, what relationships were identified?

A

Correlation between testosterone and cortisol (peaks in testosterone lagged a few hours behind cortisol peaks)

No other relationships found; high variability in measurements at different times of day, inter-individuals, season; no correlation in females and progesterone

Zoo Bio 40.5 2021 Bechert et al

25
(Day 2 Zoo) When evaluating musth amongst elephants at AZA institutions, what conclusions were drawn?
Leadership support = most important resource Timing of musth was overall variable but half of males in the survey had predictable cycles Musth more common in summer months Zoo Bio 43.4 2024
26
During breeding, where is semen deposited in the female reproductive tract?
proximal vestibule (not vagina)
27
Elephants have the longest estrus cycle of any known mammal, how long?
13-18 weeks
28
Discuss the major parts of the follicular phase of the female elephant estrus cycle.
(1) FSH peaks at start, allows follicles to grow (2) Estrogen surge occurs with first wave of follicles (3) Anovulatory LH peak which leads to luteinization of granulosa cells without ovulation occurring. This leads to follicles producing inhibins which promote the formation of a single dominant follicle (Graafian follicle) (4) Second follicular wave develops and produces a cominant follicle (5) Second LH peak occurs which induced the dominant follicle to rupture
29
What structure produces progestagens?
CLs on the ovary
30
What is the dominant hormone during the luteal phase?
Progestagens and Inhibit
31
What are the dominant hormones during the follicular phase?
FSH Estrogen LH surges
32
Discuss what occurs during the luteal phase of the female elephant reproductive cycle.
(1) Luteinized follicles become accessory CLs on each ovary (2) CLs produce progestagens (3) After 1 week, CLs regress w/out a drop in progestagens (but eventually progestagens levels drop) (4) FSH levels start to rise at the end of the luteal phase and peak to start another follicular phase
33
What are common ultrasound findings for a female elephant in the follicular phase?
(1) Multiple follicles on ovary (2) Fluid in the endometrium (sometimes small amount distending the uterus) (3) Hyperechoic uterus close to ovulation (4) Clear distinction between endometrium and myometrium (end = hyperechoic to myometrium)
34
What hormone maintains pregnancy?
Progestagens (from multiple CLs not the placenta like other mammals)
35
At what stage of pregnancy is it appropriate to begin progestagen measurements?
10-12 weeks post-conception (can see fluctuations prior to this time)
36
List 4 methods to confirm pregnancy
(1) Serum, urine, or fecal progesterone (prolonged elevation beyond 16 weeks indicates pregnancy) (2) Prolactin (can be used as single measurement at 4-6 months; 100x non-pregnant values) (3) Ultrasound (transrectal prior to 6 months; transabdominal after 10 months) (4) Presence of a mucus plug (appears as anechoic plug in vagina)
37
What is the normal positioning of most elephants calves?
Hindlimbs first (70%; helps open cervix for skull)
38
Briefly discuss the 3 stages of elephant labor
(1) First stage: increased discomfort, restless, abdominal contractions, loss of mucus plug (2) Second stage: stronger contractions, rupture of allantois, fluctuating bludge under tail, fetus enters vestibule (3) Third stage: continuous visibility of bludge under tail, expulsion of calf, placenta
39
What is the most accurate method to preducting parturition?
Progestagen levels - Will drop to be 2/3rds of the pregnancy value - Indicates 1-5 days away from birth - Needs to occur in combination with calculated due date because you can see variations late term
40
Other than progestagen measurement, what are other methods for predicting parturition?
(1) Loss of mucus plug (most times within 12 hours, but can take up to 72 hours) (2) Transrectal U/S (can see fluid and feet pushing up to cervix up to 32 hours prior to birth) (3) Clinical signs including frequent urination and defecation, smaller fecal ball size, restlessness, beating vulva with tail
41
Which elephants species are reported to be more prone to birthing problems?
Asian elephants
42
List 2 diseases reported to cause abortions in elephants.
Salmonella Poxvirus (NOT EEHV)
43
Why are nulliparous females associated with an increased risk of birthing complications?
(1) Fibrosis of hymen increases with age (2) Inadequate cervical dilation or lack of softening of vagina/vestibulum Not recommended to breed females after 25 years of age
44
List recommended surgical approaches for fetal delivery
Episiotomy or vaginal vestibulotomy and fetotomy C-sections are not recommended due to high mortality rates of dam and fetus
45
(Day 2 Zoo) According to a review into female elephant abortions and still births, which months are prone to pregnancy loss?
15, 17, 22 Zoo Bio 43.6 2024 Huijsmans et al
46
During AI, where is the semen deposited?
Distal vagina near cervical opening
47
Success with AI in elephants has been increased using what methods?
(1) U/S or hormonal identifcation of Graafian follicle (2) 1-4 consecutive inseminates per cycle over 48 hours (3) Custom AI catheter to guide through the vestibule and deposit semen into the distal vagina
48
What are the most frequent genital abnormalities in female Asian elephants? Why are they thought to occur?
Leiomyomas, smooth muscle tumors (neither observed in African elephants) Due to increased estrogen and progesterone can promote tumor development
49
What reproductive change is frequently observed in nulliparous African elephants over 30 years of age?
Vestibular polyps (not seen in Asian elephants)
50
(Day 2 Zoo) In a study evaluating age based variations in elephant calves and social behavior, what conclusions were identified?
(1) As calves age, they are more independent from dam (2)Age of calves were not a strong predictor of social play (3) Calves seem to choose playmates at random (4) Calves are more likely to initiate play behavior with juveniles (rather than adults or dam) Zoo Bio 40.5 2021 Freeman et al
51
(Day 2 Zoo) When evaluating milk composition in African elephants, what conclusions were drawn?
(1) Milk composition between African and Asian elephants is similar to (2) Milk composition changes over lactation with a rise in fat and protein and a decrease in sugar
52
When comparing vitamin D metabolites in elephants managed at different locations, what were the main findings?
(1) Asian elephants at lower latitudes had lower vitamin D2, lower magnesium and higher PTH (2) Vitamin D3 was not dectable in Asian elephants similar to Asian elephants at higher latitudes which suggests that Asian elephants are incapable of cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D
53
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