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Zoological medicine > Reptiles > Flashcards

Reptiles Flashcards

1
Q

orders

A

crocodilia, chelonia, squamata

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2
Q

which orders and species are covered by the Dangerous Wild Animal Act

A

crocodilia, front-fanged poisonous snakes, and 2 species of poisonous lizards

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3
Q

husbandry: temperature

A

heliotherms actively seek sun for heat to bask
temperature has a direct impact on metabolism and immune system: most important factor of husbandry/temperature requirements change by species, age, season, and time of day

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4
Q

POTZ

A

preferred optimum temperature zone or thermal gradient
75-99 F

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5
Q

husbandry: lighting

A

broad spectrum lighting
use unfiltered sunlight when available (when outside temperature is above 70 F)
for lizards more light is better, place 2-4 tubes 12in or less from basking site, replace every 6 months

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6
Q

UVA light effect

A

help animals with normal behaviors

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7
Q

UVB light effect

A

activates vitamin D synthesis
D3 or cholecalciferol from UVB exposure is necessary for calcium absorption

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8
Q

basic aquatic cage

A

has a water filter, water thermostat, basking areas, and feeding areas

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9
Q

basic terrestrial cage

A

has UV light, basking light/ceramic heat emitter, thermometers, astroturf, humidity, hide box, water and food

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10
Q

humidity

A

too little = shedding problems (dysecdysis)
too much = fungal infections
using soaks allows more control

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11
Q

what are some ways you can get an anorexic animal to eat?

A

boas and pit vipers use heat sensing pits to locate warm blooded prey so might need to warm up prey
motion can also trigger feeding, and make sure cage is in optimum temperature zone: cold snakes won’t eat
animals also won’t eat pre-shed or during shed

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12
Q

physical exam

A

evaluate body-muscle tone, motility
measure snout to vent length
skin: look for lumps/bumps, parasites, skin tenting, dysecdysis, redness
eyes: look for cloudiness
resp: check for d/c
CV: heart usually 25% down body from snout
neurologic: righting reflex, skin twitching
oral: mucosal color varies by species: pale pink-bluish, oral cavity should be moist without stringy mucus

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13
Q

what type of teeth do reptiles have?

A

polyphyodontic teeth
teeth are reabsorbed or shed and quickly replaced

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14
Q

anesthesia

A

have episodical breathing: can hold their breath up to 24 hours so need PPV: 4-8 Bpm
relaxation begins cranial to caudal and is reversed during recovery
righting reflex is the first to go, check cloacal reflex and tail pinch
use fresh O2 during recovery through an ambu bag: can tolerate hight levels of CO2
unpredictable: same dose in different animals can get different results
long recovery due to slow metabolism: maintain heat

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15
Q

radiology

A

allows us to see through shell in chelonians
DV view is good for evaluation of the internal structures
lateral view is good for lungs
skyline view is used for lungs in chelonians: cranial-caudal head on view, ideal to use horizontal beam

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16
Q

venipuncture

A

lizard: jugular, tail vein, axillary plexus
chelonian: jugular, subcarapacial sinus
snakes: tail vein, cardiocentesis, axillary plexus (caudal front leg pointing toward axilla)
heparin is the preferred anticoagulant for RBC evaluation

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17
Q

caudal tail vein

A

ventral midline of the tail, about 1/4 tail length caudal to the vent
be careful of hemipenes and musk glands
go between the scales at a 90 degree angle on the midline

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18
Q

injection sites

A

IM, intracoelomic (Ice), SQ
intracoelomic: coelomic cavity accessed through prefemoral fossa (space just cranial to pelvic limb), good for turtles/tortises

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19
Q

why do some people believe injections in reptiles should be administered cranial to the kidneys?

A

they have a renal portal system which allows blood to flow from the caudal portion of the body to the kidneys prior to returning to the heart
some owners think this may cause an issue with injections: may or may not actually be an issue

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20
Q

fluids administration

A

SQ preferred for snake and lizard fluids
can use plain ringers, Normosol, LRS (if no liver issues)

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21
Q

what is the best form of fluid maintenance?

A

soaking

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22
Q

how is fluid therapy done?

A

orally

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23
Q

normal stool

A

well-formed, high in fiber
don’t defecate frequently

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24
Q

what causes soft stool?

A

diet too high in carbohydrates and too low in fiber or parasite infection

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25
nycotherus
normal flora in chelonians
26
trypanasomes parasite
normal but watch for high numbers
27
kalicephalus parasite
intestinal hookworm associated with anemia and malnutrition in snakes
28
protozoa parasites
cryptosporidium, trichmonas, coccidia, giardia
29
salmonella
bacteria found in raw meat, healthy reptiles, and people reptiles carry normally in digestive tract people can get sick from reptile contact or get it subclinically
30
chelonia
family: testunidae (tortoise) protected species: Gopher, Texas, Desert most primitive group of reptiles tortoise is terrestrial, turtles are aquatic or semiaquatic except box turtle is terrestrial
31
sulcata tortoise
can get up to 200 lbs
32
leopard tortoise
can get above 60 lbs
33
radiated tortoises
live up to 50 years from Madagascar critically endangered
34
red foot and yellow foot tortoises
from South America require 70% humidity
35
box turtle
terrestrial, protected in some areas, has a hinged plastrom
36
Blanding's turtle
black with yellowish spots, very long neck and a bright yellow chin and throat, head is dark with short rounded snout and a notched upper jaw
37
terrapin turtle
lives in swamp water
38
red eared slider turtle
most popular pet turtle lives 20-30 years pond/river turtle
39
cheloniidae family
sea turtles females must come ashore to lay eggs in sand
40
Kemp's Ridley turtle
sea turtle critically endangered, have primarily 1 breeding area in the gulf of Mexico, females all lay eggs at once
41
Hawksbill turtle
endangered sea turtle used for shell trade sponges are primary food source so loss of coral reef can lead to difficulties getting food
42
cape canaveral turtle
sea turtle "dark skies" during nesting
43
leatherback turtle
sea turtle largest turtle in the world only 1 that lack scales and hard shell has rubbery skin over interlocking bones
44
turtle shell anatomy
carapace = dorsal shell - keratin covering up to 50 bones including nuchial (most cranial) plastron = ventral shell - made up of 9 bones box turtles have movable hinge between pectoral and abdominal scutes
45
turtle beaks
soft-shelled turtle: elongated nose adaptations for diet
46
turtle respiratory system
trachea is short and bifurcates into mainstream bronchi, have complete tracheal rings lungs are saccular and attached to carapce head and limbs retracted into the shell and hissing = expelling air no diaphragm have cloacal bursa for gas exchange aquatic turtles can also exchange gases through the mucosa of their oral cavity soft shelled turtles exchange O2 through skin
47
turtle respiration
alternating body cavity pressure with leg pumping and muscular contraction and relaxation within shell
48
turtle circulatory system
3-chambered heart with 1 ventricle that allows mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood have a cardiac shunt believed to serve in bypassing the lungs in diving turtles
49
which type of turtle has uric acid as waste?
terrestrial turtles
50
which type of turtles have urea and NH3 as waste?
aquatic
51
male turtle anatomy
longer, larger tails plastron is concave to mount female aquatic males have long front feet nails single, large, dark colored penis located on the floor of the cloaca and is only used for reproductive purposes - can prolapse, tx: amputate
52
gravid turtle
pregnant or egg-bound
53
turtle female reproductive system
no true uterus but have an oviduct shells are pliable
54
turtle PE
mostly hands-off evaluate weight, measurement, overall condition, activity, eyes/nares, tympanic membrane, heart auscultation, respirations look to see how they fit their shell - edema? hydration status: shrunken eyes = dehydrated, skin turgor can be done on dorsal aspect of neck
55
turtle conditions commonly seen on PE
rostral abrasions stomatitis: mouth rot, heals slowly over several sheds, salt secretions beak overgrowth (hyperkeratosis): swollen eyes from vitamin A deficiency ticks commonly found around ears and in just above rear legs under shell
56
crocodilians
closest living relative of birds orders: crocodile, alligator, caiman, gharial
57
crocodile
lighter color, long narrow nose, teeth visible with mouth closed
58
caiman
live in swamplands of central and South America, bony plates on belly, smaller but aggressive
59
gharial
freshwater crocodile of India endangered
60
crocodilians anatomy
4-chambered heart foramen of panizza located between 2 aortas, shunts blood away from lungs to heart and brain during submersion, can last up to an hour have a lowered metabolism
61
squamata
lizards and snakes suborder: sauria = lizards loosely divided into arboreal, terrestrial, burrowing, semi-aquatic, and aquatic
62
monitor lizards and geckos
noted for aggression Asian water monitor lizard is a more appropriate pet but still has a vulnerable status in the wild
63
which lizards are covered by the dangerous wild animals act?
venomous lizards Mexican beaded lizard and gila monster
64
komodo dragon
lizard genus largest reptile, may have some venom but appear to not need it, kill through blunt force trauma and blood loss
65
lizard temperament
tegus and monitor lizards are known for powerful bites iguanas use tail and neck to attack
66
basic lizard anatomy
lifespan: up to 30 years in larger species iguanas have nuchal and dorsal crests have dewlap coelom = no diaphragm have renal portal system
67
lizard ear anatomy
no external ear tympanic membrane is clear in some iguanas have sub-tympanic scale
68
lizard eye anatomy
most lizards have movable eyelids and nictating membranes chameleons have independent eye movement pupil differences depending on species: round = diurnal, vertical = nocturnal light helps with melatonin release, knowing time of day, absorption of light, and temperature control
69
lizard colors
variations, most adults lose bright green and become grayer/brown males have a deep reddish orange color during mating season can develop stress colors or darken in the sun
70
lizard Jacobson's organ
sensory organ located on dorsal oral cavity scent particles are collected on tongue and transferred to the sensory organ which detects prey pheromones
71
lizard cardiac anatomy
have 3-chambered heart cardiac shunt diverts blood across the heart to bypass pulmonary circulation the impact this shunt has on them is that they can be intermittent lung breathers but can also have periods of apnea which affects anesthesia (they can hold their breath for 24 hours)
72
parietal eye
"3rd eye" that some reptiles and fish have has an unknown purpose
73
lizard sexing
male: larger size, has dewlap, highly developed femoral pores, paired hemipenes, probe will pass posterior much deeper than female (will only pass 2-3 scales deep in females)
74
hemipenal prolapse
can occur in males due to straining, post copulation, forced probing, or infection
75
lizard shell gland
no true uterus, eggs form in oviduct, pliable shells
76
snake suborder
serpentes
77
which types of snakes are viperids?
rattlesnake, cottonmouth, copperhead
78
viperid characteristics
fangs on back of upper jaw for injecting venom, can rotate fangs independently, can fold against roof of mouth when not in use venomous located around the world except for isolated islands triangular shaped head short, stout body ovoviviparous
79
venom control in snakes
can deliver dry bites and carefully control how much venom is expelled per bite to conserve venom
80
keeled scales
seen on most snake species aka ridged scales splay slightly outward from body and gives the snake a rough textured appearance
81
snake reproduction
ovoviviparity snake's young hatches from eggs while inside of the snake, then the snake gives birth to live young and expels the egg remains after
82
elapids
cobra, coral snake, mamba slender and agile short fangs, hang on and chew venom into victims, venom is toxic to nervous system and paralyzes breathing center
83
boidae
boa constrictors are exclusively New World can be tame in captivity max length in captivity: 7-8ft vs wild: can get more than 12ft
84
pythonidae
pythons live in African/Asian and Australian tropics ball python can get to be 5ft at most Burmese and reticulated pythons can reach 20+ ft
85
snakes anatomy
have Jacobson's organ no eyelid or nictating membrane spectacle or globe of eye is kept moist by harderian gland round pupil = diurnal, vertical = nocturnal absent external ear and no middle ear but sense vibrations from substrate on which head rests arboreal snakes pick up aeral vibrations buccal cavity creates mucus to coat prey
86
pit organs
specialized heat sensitive organs in snout of snakes that can sense infrared radiation signals seen in boas, pythons, and vipers
87
snake circulatory system
position of heart correlates with arboreal, terrestrial, or aquatic habits intracardiac shunting allows them to hold their breath
88
snake respiratory system
most have a single right lung and a small nonfunctioning left lung right lung is ~1/2 or more of body length and posterior 1/3 is an air sac breathe using negative pressure ventilation where intercostal muscles expand the ribs along the entire body dropping lung pressure while drawing in air
89
snake male reproductive
longer tails, more scales subcloacally cloacal probe advances further in males boas have vestigal pelvic spurs used in copulation as stimulation and to help position the 2 cloacas together
90
snake female reproductive
70% of snakes are oviparous: no placental connection, young are nourished by egg yolk ovoviviparous is seen in places where the ground is too cold to incubate eggs
91
ecdysis
shedding skin is shed in visible pieces, many reptiles eat shed amphibians shed in pieces or whole, some do gyrations to lose shed tortoise/turtle: shed in small pieces snakes: shed in 1 piece, amount vaies with size
92
appearance and behavior during shedding
eyes will become opaque during shedding they will become cranky, anorexic, inactive, and have fragile skin
93
dysecdysis
abnormality in shedding process treatment: soak in lukewarm water for 30-60 minutes 1-2x daily

Zoological medicine (13 decks)

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