Exotic animal integument Flashcards
What are the natural colours of small mammals
What can whiskers be described as?
sensitive vibrissae
Describe the integument of ferrets
Fur = soft, short under coat and long, course guard hairs
Skin is thick with sebaceous glands
No sweat glands, thick coat - prone to overheating
Seasonal moults - coat thins and lightens in spring
Describe the fur of rabbits
long and short guard hairs
undercoat
feet covered in thick fur
Describe the moulting pattern of rabbits
seasonal - spring and autumn
What is the function of large ears in a rabbit?
thermoregulation
where do rabbits have scent glands?
submental, anal and inguinal
What is a dewlap and what animals have it?
Mature female rabbits
What are some rabbit breed problems?
Rex - short guard hairs, hock sores, prone to pododermatitis
Angora - long undercoat -> matting
Giant breeds - skin fold dermatitis, pododermatitis
Lops - deformed ear canal, ear infections
Describe guinea pig integument
Lots of coat variations
Thick foot pads - prone to urine scald/bumblefoot
Hairless being ears
Sebaceous gland 1cm dorsal to anus (often matted and sticky in entire males)
Describe chinchilla integument
Very dense, soft coat
Need regular dust baths
‘fur slip’ - defence when handled roughly
Ears - large and bald
Describe hamster integument
Skin loose and stretches
large flank +/- ventral scent glands
glands more prominent in mature males
Describe rat integument
Zymbal’s gland at base of ear
Tail = hairless, important for thermoregulation (care for tail slip)
extensive mammary tissue
Describe gerbil integument
Tail-slip
Ventral scent gland
Describe sugar glider integument
pouch with 4 teats
cloaca
patagium stretching between front and hind legs
scent glands - forehead (males), throat and paracloacal
tail-slip
Describe african pygmy hedgehog integument
spines = modified hair
hair and sebaceous glands absent in spiny skin
many sweat and sebaceous glands in haired skin and feet
What are the functions of reptile skin?
display
protection
camouflage
thermoregulation
fluid homeostasis
Describe the structure of the reptile epidermis
What types of keratin are found in reptiles?
Alpha-keratin - flexible, delicate, found between scales and scutes, often sites of infections and mites
Beta-keratin - unique to reptiles, hard, form scutes, horns and scales
What is the chelonian shell made from?
What gives reptile skin its colour and what influences it?
Chromatophores - pigment containing cells that lie between dermis and epidermis
Influenced by autonomic NS, hormones, light and temp
What is reptile skin colour used for?
camouflage
display
thermoregulation
What is the parietal eye in reptiles?
connected to pineal gland
responds to light
helps with thermoregulation and hormone production
What are spectacles in reptiles?
clear scales over eyes of snakes and geckos
What are heat-sensory pits?
detect warm prey
in boas, pythons and vipers
What are crests, frills, horns, gular pouches and spines used for in reptiles?
display and/or defence
What are cloacal spurs in reptiles?
retained pelvic vestiges
used in courtship
what is a rattle in reptiles?
loosely fitting keratin
used to warn predators
what adhesive toe pads in reptiles?
rows of tiny overlapping scales (lamellae) which are covered in tiny branching hairs
What gives the chelonian shell additional strength?
scutes and osteoderms do not overlap exactly
How do chelonian scutes grow?
addition of new keratin layers to base
What is ecdysis?
reptiles - shedding of skin under influence of thyroid gland
What are the stages of ecdysis?
- cells of stratum intermediate layer replicate to form a new (3-layer) epidermis
- lymph and enzymes diffuse between old and new epidermis to form a cleavage zone
- old skin is shed
- new skin hardens
What is dysecdysis?
problems shedding
what are some clinical implications of shedding in reptiles?
During shedding the skin becomes more permeable and vulnerable to parasites and infection
Enhances absorption of topical medications -> toxicity
What husbandry requirements do shedding reptiles require?
areas of increased humidity
rough object to rub on to initiate final shedding
what is the function of amphibian skin
protection
sensory organ
thermoregulation
fluid balance
Describe the epidermis of amphibians
thinner, easily damaged
Stratum corneum may be only 1 cell thick
Describe the amphibian dermis
outer stratum spongiosum and inner stratum compactum
contains nerves, vessels, smooth muscles, chromatophores and specialised glands
Stratum corneum can be tightly adhered (salamanders) or loosely adhered (frogs and toads) to underlying connective tissue
What are some amphibian skin adaptations?
area of increased vascularity on ventral pelvis to enable water absorption (‘drinking/pelvic patch’)
Epidermal glands may produce mucous/waxy substances that enhance cutaneous respiration and reduce evaporative water loss
Glands may produce toxins to act against predators and infection
Why do captive amphibians contain little, if any toxin?
toxins are metabolised from their wild prey
How can amphibian skin permeability be used in practice?
used to administer topical medications
soaking in shallow water aids rehydration
What is special about fish epidermal cells?
capable of cell division at all levels
will migrate to cover any defect and help restore waterproof integrity during wound healing
What cells are present in fish epidermis?
mucus-producing goblet cells
some have club cells which secrete alarm substances
describe the anatomy of fish scales and the implication of this
scales are embedded in dermis and covered by layer of epidermis - loss of scales always damages skin leading to osmotic balance issues
Label the fish skin
