Reptile objectives Flashcards
1
Q
Which is the male and which is female?
A
2
Q
Which is male, which is female?
A
3
Q
Which is male, which is female?
A
Female = less pronounced femoral plugs and jowls
(Female on bottom left and top right)
4
Q
What is the hands off exam?
What 4 things do you look for?
A
Observe animal before removing from enclosure
- General disposition, attitude, behavior
- Musculoskeletal
- Obvious respiratory problems
- Obvious GI problems
5
Q
T/F: Serial weights are good indicators of hydration and nutrition status
A
TRUE
6
Q
Which weight and measurements can help identify nutrition problems?
A
Morphometric measurements when combined with body weight
7
Q
What are the methods for taking temperature?
A
- Deep cloacal with probes
- Surface temperature
- Digital
- Distant laser
- Thermal monitor device
8
Q
In which species should you avoid using the stethoscope for HR? What should be used instead?
A
Chelonians–use doppler at thoracic inlet between the distal cervical region and the proximal front leg
9
Q
What are 3 methods of obtaining heart rate/rhythm?
A
- Stethoscope (not for chelonians)
- Pulse ox cloacal probe
- Doppler (chelonians)
10
Q
T/F: All reptiles lack a diaphragm
A
FALSE (kinda)
Crocodilians have pseudodiaphragms
11
Q
What are the 2 breathing methods in the reptile respiratory system?
A
Intercostal excursion (careful w/ restraint!!)
Limb pumping
12
Q
Do reptiles have a glottis?
A
YES
13
Q
Which reptiles have complete tracheal rings? Which ones have incomplete rings?
A
- Complete = crocs and chelonians
- Incomplete = snakes and lizards
14
Q
Are reptile lungs sac-like or sponge-like?
A
Both!
15
Q
T/F: The cranial lung lobes are responsible for storage while the caudal provide gas exchange
A
FALSE
Cranial = gas exchange
Caudal = storage
16
Q
Which species only has a single lung?
A
Snakes, though there are exceptions
17
Q
What makes up the reptile circulatory system?
A
- 3 chambered heart
- All but crocodilians
- Common ventricle
- 2 atria
18
Q
What should you look for when observing the nares?
A
Asymmetry or discoloration
Mucus
19
Q
Which species have an external ear?
A
Lizards and crocodilians
20
Q
Which species have external tympanums?
What are they prone to?
A
Chelonians & lizards
Prone to abscesses in the external tympanum
21
Q
What kind of ears do snakes have and how do they work?
A
- Inner ear only
- Connection to jaw–‘hear’ vibrations
- Low frequency: 150-600Hz
22
Q
What should you pay attention to when examining chelonian ears?
A
Swelling–commonly occurs with hypovitaminosis A
23
Q
Do most reptiles have moveable eyelids?
A
Yes
24
Q
Which species has brille (spectacle)?
A
Snakes
25
What happens if snakes don't shed their brille properly?
Abscesses can form
26
T/F: Reptiles can change the shape of their lens
TRUE
27
What is significant about the iris in reptiles?
Skeletal muscle
No consensual PLR
28
What common material can you use to observe reptiles' oral cavities to avoid chomping of fingers?
Nylabone, PVC pipe, rope, or IV tubing
29
What should you specifically look for when inspecting the oral cavity?
* Tongue, glottis, choana, and outlets of the eustacian tubes
* MM color, excessive mucus, petechiation, plaques, ulceration, and caseous material
30
What color should reptilian MM be? Can you observe them in any locations other than the mouth?
Pink
Can also check MM at cloaca
31
\_\_\_\_\_ have well-developed, fleshy tongues with few taste buds.
Squamates
32
Lizard tongues have a _____ component prey acquisition and a _____ component that aids in swallowing
Lizard tongues have a **_cranial**_ component prey acquesition and a _**caudal_** component that aids in swallowing.
33
Snakes have ______ tongues.
chemosensory
34
What is the Jacobson's organ (4 facts)?
* Vomeronasal organ
* Opens directly into mouth
* Tongue inserts into organ when mouth is closed
* Innervated by olfactory nerve
35
What are chelonian tongues like?
Fleshy but tightly attached
36
What the f\*\*\* is a thecodont, pleurodont, and acrodont?
* Thecodont = tooth socket
* Pleurodont = longer roots with weak attachments to the mandible and no sockets; rest on the lingual side
* Replaced continuously
* Acrodont = shorter roots, firmer attachments, fused with bone
* Not replaced
37
Name the teeth types in the following species:
Lizards, snakes, crocodilians, chelonians
* Lizards and snakes = acrodont, pleurodont
* Crocodilians = thecodont
* Chelonians = no teeth; sharp tomia
38
In which species are oral mucosa glands well developed? Which species have poorly developed oral mucosa glands?
Well developed in snakes
Poorly developed in marine turtles and crocodilians
39
What are 5 reptilian glands?
* Oral mucous
* Lingual
* Sublingual
* Labial
* Venom (modified labial glands)
40
How can you differentiate venomous snakes from nonvenomous (by looking at teeth)?
Venemous snakes have 2 rows of teeth
Nonvenomous snakes have 4 rows
41
What are some feeding modifications in chelonians?
* Beak modified to diet
* Esophageal papillae
* Made out of keratin
* Keep grain moving while letting out salt water
42
What in God's name is this devil creature?!
A sea turtle! It's just the esophageal papillae
43
What are you looking for when examining reptilian skin?
* Sloughing
* Abnormal shedding
* Swelling
* Edema
* Abscesses
* Ulceration
* Exude
* Malodor
* Epibiota and external parasites
44
What are 4 functions/characteristics of the epidermis?
* Loss of respiratory function
* Prevents fluid loss
* Rare glands
* 3 layers
45
Name and describe the 3 layers of the epidermis
* Stratum corneum
* Heavily keratinized outer layer
* Intermediate zone
* Composed of stratum germinativum cells in various stages of development
* Stratum germinativum
* Deepest layer, consisting of cuboidal cells
* Undergoes mitosis to form the intermediate zone
46
What are 4 characteristics/functions of the dermis?
* Thick connective tissue layer
* Nourishes epidermis
* Chromatophores
* Osteoderms
47
T/F: Scales are of epidermal origin while osteoderms are of dermal origin
TRUE
Osteoderms = bony plates that support epidermal scales; form plates for carapace and plastron
48
What is ecdysis?
What is it dependent on and how does it vary among reptilian species?
What organ is involved?
* Ecdysis = shedding/casting off outer coat or integument
* Dependent on age, season
* Crocodilians and chelonians = shed continuously
* Squamates = periodic shed
* Thyroid
49
What should you look for when examining the carapace and plastron?
* Scute quality
* Hemorrhages: trauma or septicemia
* Abnormal keratinization
* Hardness and pliability
* Fractures
* Ulceration
* Malodor
* External parasites or epibionts
50
What does examination of the limbs entail?
Range of motion
Evaluate for fractures and swelling
51
Which species don't have a sternum?
Snakes and chelonians
52
Explain chelonian ribs
* Thoracic ribs = carapace
* Abdominal ribs = plastron
53
How are snake ribs attached?
Ventral ends of ribs are attached by muscle to abdominal scales
54
What should you look for during digital palpation of the caudal coelomic cavity?
* Eggs
* Cystic calculi
* Organ enlargement
* Masses
* Fluid
55
What is the purpose of digital palpation of the cloaca?
* Aid in assessing gravidity
* Colonic and cloacal tone
* Cystic calculi
* Space occupying lesions
56
What are the various parts of the cloaca?
* Coprodeum = fecal material from colon
* Urodeum = ureters from bladder, reproduction
* Proctodeum = urine and feces mix
* Vent
57
Do female reptiles have paired ovaries?
Yes
58
What are the oviducts' functions?
Albumin secreting and shell secreting function
59
What do oviducts empty into?
Empty directly into cloaca through genital papillae
60
What does viviparous mean?
Live birth
61
What does oviviparous mean? In which species does it occur in?
Producing eggs that are hatched within the body, so that young are born alive but without placental attachment
Chameleonidae
62
What's the definition of oviparous?
Producing eggs that mature and hatch after being expelled from the body
63
Which animals are parthenogenic? What does that mean?
Geckos
Development of an egg without fertilization
64
Do male reptilians have paired testicles?
Yes
Dorsomedially within coelomic cavity; right cranial to left
65
How does the copulatory organ vary among species?
* Chelonians--single median penis originating from cranioventral aspect of cloaca
* Lizards and snakes--pair of hemipenes located laterally in cloaca and inverting into base of tail by retractor muscle
66
T/F: Male reptile kidneys have a sexual segment
TRUE
67
Where do male ureters flow to?
Directly into cloaca (NOT through copulatory organ)
68
T/F: Because of internal fertilization, if there is a prolapse of the penis it can be amputated--some animals can store sperm for up to 4 years
TRUE
69
What should generally be done when restraining reptiles?
* First identify their weapons
* Reptiles don't have diaphragms
* Don't squeeze too tightly
* Don't flip upside down
* Check to be sure the reptile is non-venomous
70
How should snakes be restrained?
* Place index finger and thumb around mandible
* Support body
* Hand every 3ft
* Minimum of 2 handlers for snakes \> 5-6ft
* If venomous, can use acrylic tube
71
How do you restrain small lizards?
* Grasp head firmly with index finger and thumb
* Hold front and back legs against the body
* Hold body in cup of hand
* Do not grab tail
* Lizards will bite, scratch, and whip tail
72
How should medium lizards be restrained?
73
What are crocodilians' weapons? How should you restrain them?
* Weapons = mouth and tail
* Muscles to open and close mouth
* Tape mouth shut
* Hold tail at base
74
How do you restrain chelonians?
* Juveniles
* Grasp lateral margins of carapace
* Grasp carapace just caudal to head and between the rear flippers
* Adults
* Numerous personnel needed
* Watch head and flippers!
75
What are the environmental temperature gradients?
* Temperate
* Day 80-90F
* Night 70-75F
* Desert
* Day 85-95F
* Night 70-75F
76
What 3 types of lighting environments exist for reptiles?
Diurnal, crepuscular, nocturnal
77
What should you attempt with lighting amount (time-wise)?
Normal day length
78
What is the full spectrum wavelength for UVA lighting? What does it affect?
230-400nm
Behavior
79
What is the full spectrum wavelength for UVB lighting? What does it affect?
290-320nm
Necessary for production of vitamin D3 within skin
80
What is the proper positioning of lighting?
* 18in
* Not through glass (deflects UVB)
* 14hrs in summer and 12hrs in winter
81
What are the humidity amounts for sub-tropical, temperate, and desert environments?
* Sub-tropical = 70-90%
* Temperate = 60-80%
* Desert = 30-50%
82
Why is humidity important?
Excess moisture leads to dermatitis
Inadequate moisture leads to dessication and dysecdysis
83
How can humidity be increased?
* Soak pans
* Spray bottles
* Bottle containers
* Live plants
84
What are environmental substrates based on?
Natural behavoir
85
What are some examples of usable substrates?
* Newspaper
* Paper towels
* Astroturf/outdoor carpet
* Gravel
* Aspen shavings
* Playsand
* Recycled paper pellets
86
What materials should NOT be used as substrates?
* Cat litter
* Cedar shavings
* Quartz sand
* Small gravel
* Corn cob litter
87
What is considered when choosing substrate materials?
Aesthetics vs. convenience
88
Why is it important to regularly clean substrates?
To avoid secondary infections
89
What is required of cage furniture?
* Determine particular needs
* Adequate branches for arboreal species
* Adequate shelter for all, especially burrowing
90
What materials should NOT be used for cage furniture?
Toxic plants
91
What are the water requirements/considerations for salt water enclosures?
* pH
* Ammonia
* Nitrite
* Nitrate
* Salinity
92
Define ectotherm
An animal that is dependent on external sources of body heat
93
Define POTR. How is it established?
Preferred optimal temperature range
* Radiant heat: bulbs, ceramic
* Surface heaters: heat pads, hot rocks
94
What is included in the initial diagnostic workup/
* PE
* CBC
* Plasma biochemistry panel
* Radiographs
* Fecal
* Other specialized diagnostics as needed
95
What is included in the biochem panel?
* Uric acid
* Ca and P
* Na
* Cl
* K
* Plasma TP
* Bile acids
96
What is the interpretation of uric acid on a biochem panel?
Catabolic end product for nitrogen elimination (know when they have eaten)
Dietary intake, dehydration, renal disease
97
What is the interpretation of Ca and P on a biochem panel?
* Normal Ca:P is 2:1
* Renal disease inversion ratio
* Hypercalcemia may occur in reproductively active females
98
What do increased/decreased Na and Cl levels indicate?
* Increased: dehydration, dietary intake
* Decreased: malnutrition
99
What does elevated K on a biochem panel indicate? What about decreased levels?
* Elevated = renal disease
* Decrease = re-feeding syndrome
100
What might hypoproteinemia be a result of?
Hyperalbuminemia?
Hyperglobulinemia?
* Hypoproteinemia--debilitation, malnutrition
* Hyperalbuminemia--dehydration, repro
* Hyperglobulinemia--infectious disease
101
T/F: Bile acids may be sensitive to liver disease
TRUE
| (\> 60umol/L)
102
Can you perform a direct smear fecal for reptiles?
Yes
103
What is the most common method of obtaining a fecal sample?
Flotation
104
What specifically requires sedimentation for fecal examination?
Trematode eggs
105
What is included in the minimum database?
* Hematocrit
* Total solids
* Glucose
* CBC
* Plasma biochem panel
* Bacterial blood cultures prior to antimicrobial therapy if enough blood can be obtained
