FINAL EXAM Flashcards
What are the 2 most common behaviour problems in ferrets?
nipping and failure to litter train
When breeding hamsters, what should you do?
only take the female to the males cage, NOT VV
What are the biting habits of hamsters?
Solitary hamsters (like syrian: often aggressive)
Russian: may bite
Robo: rarely bite
What are some common issues seen in mums with hamster pups?
Aggression to them
Cannibalism (reasons why are many, may do it to the whole litter or only some)
Litter abandonment (more common during first pregnancy)
What family are hamsters in?
Cricetidae
Why do hamsters chatter their teeth?
between males, may be agonistic tension
Which small animals have a vomeronasal organ?
hamsters, GP and ferrets
Where do hamsters have secretions from and why?
flank gland, ear gland, vaginal, urine, feces and saliva to communicate information (species and individual info, sexual receptivity and territory boundaries) – Secretions deposited by arching the back and rubbing its side against vertical surfaces – occurs mostly in social but can also occur in non social contexts
What are 2 predominant behaviours for hamsters?
burrowing and climbing
What is piloerection?
hairs stand up to make them look bigger
How do hamsters keep from freezing while hibernating?
they have lotsa brown adipose tissue
How do hamsters get their info?
from tactile info – through whiskers and forepaws
What is hamster vision like?
- all rods, no cones (like guinea pigs)
- almost panoramic (move body not eyes)
What family are guinea pigs in?
caviinae
What can anosmia lead to in guinea pigs?
- disruption in sexual activity
- Failure to form species typical dominance hierarchies
- Elimination of aggression between males
- Reduced scent marking
What social hierarchies do guinea pigs have?
linear and despotic
What do guinea pigs do when theyre eating?
cover seek
What time of day are GP active?
Diurnal behaviour with crepuscular bouts of activity
How do GP distribute scent?
perineal gland secretions and urine
How many sounds do GP make?
11
What family are chinchillas in?
Chinchillidae
Chinchilla traits?
- Nocturnal
- endangered
- Obligate herbivores
- Hind gut fermenter (coprophagic)
How do chinchillas?
use vibrissae (whiskers) to assist navigating enclosed environments
How do chinchillas defend themselves?
Stand on back legs to defend themselves and piss on the other – females are better at it than males
What family are ferrets in?
mustelidae
What are ferrets most likely ancestor?
european polecat
Where are ferrets secretory glands?
anal sacs, proctodeal glands (rectum), preputial glands, sebaceous glands
What is a problem with ferret health?
they are susceptible to respiratory diseases
How do female ferrets call their young?
by whimpering
