exotic integument Flashcards

1
Q

list notable qualities of ferret integument

A
  • fur = soft, short undercoat with long and course guard hairs for waterproofing
  • skin is thick with numerous sebaceous glands = classic musky smell
  • so skin sweat glands, thick coat, therefore prone to overheating
  • seasonal moults = coat thins and lightens in spring
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2
Q

list notable qualities about rabbit integumentq

A
  • fur = long and short guard hairs with an undercoat
  • seasonal moutl = spring and autumn
  • feet covered in thick fur
  • large ears for thermoregulation
  • scent glands = submental, anal and inguinal
  • mature females have a dewlap
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3
Q

name common integument diseases in rabbits

A
  • rex rabbits prone to hock sores due to short guard hairs
  • angoras prone to matting due to longer undercoat
  • giant breeds and overweight rabbits prone to skin fold dermatitis and pododermatitis
  • lops prone to deformed ear canal, ear infections
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4
Q

list notable qualities of guinea pig integument

A
  • coat variations
  • smooth foot pads = prone to urine scald and bumblefoot
  • hairless area behind ears = normal
  • sebaceous gland = 1 cm dorsal to anus (often matted and sticky in entire males
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5
Q

list notable qualities of chinchilla integument

A
  • very dense, soft coat (up to 60 hairs per follicle)
  • need regular dust baths to maintain coat
  • fur slip = defence when handled roughly
  • ears = large and bald
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6
Q

list notable qualities of hamster integument

A
  • skin very loose and stretches
  • large flank +/- ventral scent glands
  • glands more prominent in mature males
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7
Q

list notable qualities of rat integument

A
  • Zymbals gland at base of ear (between ear and eye)
  • tail = large hairless surface area (important for thermoregulation)
  • care for tail slip
  • extensive mammary tissue in both males and females
  • only females have visible nipples
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8
Q

list notable qualities of the gerbil integument

A
  • can experience tail slip if handled incorrectly
  • have ventral scent glands
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9
Q

list notable qualities of sugar glider integument

A
  • a marsupial so females have a pouch with 4 teats
  • have cloaca = single orifice similar to birds and reptiles
  • patagium stretching between front and hind legs allows to glide
  • scent glands = forehead in males, throat and paracloacal
  • males have pendulous scrotum on ventral abdomen
  • can get tail slip if handled improperlty
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10
Q

list notable qualities of hedgehog integument

A
  • spines = modified hairs
  • hair and sebaceous glands absent in the spiny skin
  • many sweat and sebaceous glands in haired skin and feet
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11
Q

list functions of reptile skin

A
  • display
  • protection
  • camoflauge
  • thermoregulation
  • fluid homeostasis
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12
Q

what are the 3 layers of the reptiel epidermis

A
  • stratum germinatum = divides and produces keratin
  • intermediate layer = contains lipids
  • straum corneum = forms cales and scutes
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13
Q

what are the 2 types of reptiel keratin

A
  • alpha keratin = flexible and delicate, found between scales and scutes and in hinges, often sites of infection and mites
  • beta keratin is unique to reptiles, hard and forms scutes, horns and scales
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14
Q

discuss reptile dermis

A
  • contains pigment cells, nerves and vessels
  • contains osteoderms (bony plates) in some species
  • the chelonian shell is formed from about 60 osteoderms which are fused with the ribs and parts of the spine and covered by epidermal scutes or leathery skin
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15
Q

discuss how reptile skin colour is different from mammalian

A
  • contains chromatophores which are pigment containing cells that lie between the dermis and epidermis
  • influenced by autonomic nervous system, hormones, light and temperature
  • used in camoflauge, display and thermoregulation
  • expression and distrubution of chromatophores varies
  • different pigments include melanin (black, brown and grey), carotenoid (yellow, orange ande red) and guanine which reflects light
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16
Q

what is the parietal eye in reptiles

A
  • 3rd eye
  • in many lizards is connected to the pineal gland in the brain
  • responds to light
  • thought to help with thermoregulation and hormone production
  • usually located on top of head
17
Q

what does the term spectacles refer to in reptiles

A

clear scale over eyes

18
Q

what are cloacal spurs

A
  • retained pelvic vestiges found in boids used in courtship
19
Q

why is ecdysis

A

shedding of the skin (influenced by thyroid gland)
- skin becomes more permeable during ecdysis and therefore more vulnerable to infection

20
Q

whaty are the stages of ecdysis

A
  • the cells of the stratum intermediate layer replicate to form a new 3 layer epidermis
  • lymph and anzymes diffuse between the old and new epidermis to form a cleavage zone = cloudy skin
  • the old skin is shed
  • the new skin hardens
21
Q

list notable qualities of amphibian integument

A
  • amphibians wholly or partially reliant on water access
  • integument is a very important organ
  • functions to protect and sensory organ as well as having thermoregulatory and fluid balance functions
  • damage or disease is serious and life threatening
  • skin very permeable
  • epidermis and dermis present
  • epidermis is considerably thinner compared to reptiles and mammals and is easily damaged
  • stratum corneum may be only 1 cell layer thick or may be absent
  • dermis consists of an outer stratum spongiosum and an inner stratum compactum
  • ## dermis contains nerves, vessels, smoothmuscle, chromatophores and specialised glands
22
Q

discuss fish epidermis

A
  • unlike mammals, fish epidermis at all levels are capable of cell division
  • accumilations of localised cornified cells occur during the breeding season in males
  • mucous producing goblet cells within
  • some species have club cells which secrete alarm substances
  • cuticle consists of mucus and contains antibodies and lysozymes
23
Q

discuss fish dermis

A
  • scales are embedded in the dermis and covered by a layer of the epidermis; thus a loss of scales will almost always damage the skin leading to osmotic balance problems
  • specialised derivatives of scales include spines, stings, bony plates and lateral line system
  • fins are modified structures of the skin that aid locomotion and balance in water