Exotics integument Flashcards
Discuss the integument of the ferret
- Natural colour= polecat
- Soft/ short undercoat and long guard hairs
- Skin is thick
- Have sebaceous glands which give the musky smell
- NO SWEAT GLANDS
- Seasonal moults
Discuss the integument of the rabbit
-Long/ short guard hairs and an undercoat
-Natural colour= agouti
-Moult in spring/ autumn
-Mature females= dewlap
-Feet covered in thick fur HAVE NO FOOT PADS
-Large ears= thermoregulation
=Scent glands= submental, anal, inguinal
-Vibrissae
Discuss the integument of the guinea pig
- Natural colour= agouti
- Thick foot pads which are prone to urine scald
- Vibrissae
- Sebaceous gland above anus
Discuss the integument of the chinchilla
- Very dense, soft coat
- Need dust baths to maintain coat
- Natural colour= blue/grey
- ‘Fur slip’
- Footpads
- Vibrissae
Discuss the integument of the hamster
- Vibrissae
- Skin is very loose and stretchy
- Large lateral scent glands, also have ventral glands
- Glands become more prominent in mature males
Discuss the integument of the rat
- Wild colour= agouti
- Guard hairs/ undercoat
- Footpads
- Sweat glands ONLY on feet
- Zymbals gland= at base of ear
- Tail= important in thermoregulation
- Tail slip
- Vibrissae
Discuss the integument of the gerbil
- Wild colour= agouti
- Guard hairs/ undercoat
- Tail slip
- Ventral scent gland
Discuss the integument of the sugar glider
-Patagium stretches between front/ hind legs
Where is the glandular tissue in some species of lizard?
- Femoral/ precloacal pores
Describe the reptile epidermis
-3 layers
Stratum germinatum: divides, produces keratin
Intermediate layer: contains lipids
Stratum corneum: forms scales/ scutes
What are the two forms of keratin in reptile integument?
-Alpha keratin
Flexible/ found between scales/ scutes/ often site of infection by mites
-Beta keratin
Unique to reptiles/ hard/ forms scutes, horns and scales.
What are osteoderms and in which species do you find them?
Bony plates in the dermis, found in crocodile and tortoise
-Fused with ribcage in the tortoise
What are chromatophores?
They lie between dermis and epidermis and are influenced by ANS/ light / temperature
-Used in camouflage, display, thermoregulation
Which colours are carotenoid cells?
Yellow, red, orange
What are iridophores?
- Reflect blue light giving skin a blue tinge.
- Contain semi-crystalline guanine
What is the parietal eye?
-Found in many lizards are helps with regulating body temp
What are spectacles?
Clear scales over eyes of snakes and some geckos
What has spurs?
Boids
What are gastropeges?
Row of ventral scales in snakes
Aid locomotion
How do a gecko’s adhesive toe pads work?
Composed of lots of rows of tiny overlapping scales (lamellae) and each lamellae has branching hairs (setae)
What is the names of the top and bottom shell of a chelonion?
Carapace (top)
Plastron (bottom)
What gives the chelonions shell strength?
The osteoderms and scutes do not overlap directly-> they are staggered
How do scutes grow?
By the addition of a new keratin layer to the base of each scute-> they grow in rings meaning that the centre of the scute is the oldest section
What influences ecdysis?
Thyroid hormones
What are the stages of ecdysis?
- Cell of the intermediate layer replicate= form a new three layer epidermis
- Lymph and enzymes duffuse between old and new layers forming a cleavage zone
- Old skin lost in shed and new skin hardens
How is the chelonian shell formed?
From around 60 osteoderms that are fused with the ribs and spine
Covered by epidermal scutes or leathery skin
What is the difference with amphibian skin?
- The epidermis is considerably thinner than in reptiles and mammals
- Stratum corneum may be only 1 celllayer thick
What is the ‘drinking patch’ in amphibian skin?
-Anurans have an area of increased vascularity which is called the drinking patch-, it enables water absorptions
What are the implications of amphibian skin permeability?
- Can use topical medicines
- Rehydrate by putting in tray of shallow water
- Fungal disease: Chytridiomycosis
