Reptiles Flashcards
Terrapins fall under what Order in the Reptilia Class?
Chelonia. Along with Turtles and Tortoises
What reptiles belong to the Order Squamata?
- Snakes - Suborder Serpente
- Lizards - Suborder Sauria
Which appendix of CITES includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival?
- Appendix i
- Appendix ii
- Appendix iii
- Appendix iv
Appendix ii
Btw, I made up Appendix iv, so yeah.
Which species are protected under Appendix i of CITES?
Those species threatened with extinction.
Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances, such as research.
Which appendix of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) is a list of animals that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.
- Appendix i
- Appendix ii
- Appendix iii
- Appendix iv
Appendix iii
What does the term Ectotherm mean?
That body temperature is maintained based on the surrounding environment.
Define POTR (POTZ)
What is the POTR for a temperate zone reptile vs a desert reptile. (Though she said this wouldn’t be on the exam)
Prefered Optimal Temperate Range/Zone
Temperate: Day 80-90F Night 70-75F
Hibernation can be maintained 35-59F for a minimum of 10 weeks.
Desert: Day 85-95F Night 70-75F
Desert reptiles have a different day preference but night is the same. Deserts are just a little warmer than tempterate areas.
As far as ectotherms regulating thier body temps go, you have your Stenothermals and your Eurythermals. One is an organism that can tollerate a wide range of temerparture, and the one can’t. Which is which?
Stenothermal - No, nope, cant handle temperature changes.
Ex, Terrestial animals
Eurythermal - Surely can handle temperature changes.
Ex, Sea critters. Like Sea turtles that traverse the wide majestic ocean and all their temperatures. (they can get cold stunning though if the temp change happens to fast)
Name me the part of the reptile body that protects it, aids in locomotions, allows mositure to be retained, helps with camouflage, and can be modified to make a rattle sound.
Scales
What are the modified scales of Crocodiles and chelonians called?
Scutes
Reptiles have both Renal & Hepatic circulation.
Which form of circulation runs on the ventral midline, just under the ventral abdominal musculature?
The Hepatic Portal system
Takin dem bloods from the intestine to the liver
T/F: The Renal portal system takes blood from the caudal portion of the body and puts it directly into the kidneys.
False
the blood CAN enter the Kidneys, or it can bypass them entirely
So class, this is why we avoid giving drugs in the back end, but fluids are cool.
Why do we consider reptiles to be Uricotelic?
Because thier primary nitrogenous waste is URIC ACID, not urea.
T/F: Reptiles can not produce hypertonic urine.
True
They can’t concentrate urine beyond plasma concentration.
T/F: Ecdysis is stimulated when one snake wants to attract another snake. Ergo, it gets naked.
False, you perv.
It is the regular sheding of skin stimulated by the Thyroid, Age and Health Status.
Snakes shed everything, even around the eyes. Lizards shed in patches. Chelonia and Crocs shed individual scutes.
Dysecdysis manifests most commonly in what locations?
Around the tail, digits and areas with scars or previous injuries.
Commonly in animals kept in inappropiate humidity.
What spectrum of light do reptiles need and why?
UVA (for behaviors or A for Attitude)
& UVB (for Vit D3 production in skin
T/F: As long as the glass is clear (not covered with pictures or flim) you can shine your reptile’s light source through it to mimic a normal day length.
False
glass reflects UVB .. sooo don’t do that. Get a screen.
T/F: Excess moisture/humidity leades to dysecdysis and dessication while inadequate moisture leads to dermatitis.
False, flip dat shiz
Excess moisture = dermatitis
Inadequate moisture = dysecdysis and dessication
Sub-trop: 70-90% Temperate: 60-80% Desert: 35-50%
Which is an example of a substrate you shold NOT use in your reptile’s enclosure?
- newspaper
- papertowel
- astrotruf
- outdoor carpet
- cat litter/quartz sand/cedar shaving mix
- normal sized gravel
- aspen shavings
- playsand
cat litter/quartz sand/cedar shaving mix
None of those should ever be used. Be them as a mix or seperate.
Heather thinks toxic plants are gorgeous, because lets be real, in nature the more deadly you are, the prettier you are too. So, instead of buying a planter for them, she decides to save money and spice up her lizards enclosure. Heather knows her reptile would never be dumb enough to eat or play on something so pretty. Is Heather being a good reptile mom?
NO! She is bad and she should feel bad.
Dont use toxic plants as cage furniture.
Gabriela recently found a baby sea turtle washed up on the shore and wanted to keep it for a few days to make all the Finding Nemo Snapchats. Aside from that probably being illegal, she doesn’t want to be a bad reptile mom like Heather was. What 5 things should she monitor in the salt water tank?
- pH
- Ammonia
- Nitrite
- Nitrate
- Salinity
Regarding snake nutrition, which statement is incorrect?
- Prey should be no larger than the girth of the snake
- Offer prey on the substrate the snake is on
- Train to take pre-killed prey
- Do not freeze food >12 weeks
- Do not feed temperate species at least 4 weeks before hibernation
Offer prey on the substrate the snake is on
FLASE
You should feed them on a solid surface as to minimize the chance of them ingesting whatever substrate the prey is on.
In regards to insectivorous lizard nutrition, which statement is INCORRECT?
- Live prey should be no larger than width of lizards head
- all insects should be nutrient loaded prior to feeding 30 minutes before
- dust insects with calcium rich supplement
- feed as many insects as can be eaten in 2 hours
- feed daily.
HA there were two wrong this time. Did you catch it?
all insects should be nutrient loaded prior to feeding 1-2 days before
feed as many insects as can be eaten in 1 hour
How often should you feed carnivorous lizards a lean rodent meal?
Neonates/Juveniles - Ever 1-3 Days
Adults: Every 3-7 Days
some Monitors: Ever 1-2 weeks
Vegetables rich in oxalic acid (oxalates) can bind calcium and reduce absoprtion. Thus skewing the Ca:P ratio. These should be avoided being fed to our herbiverous lizards and tortoises. What are some examples?
Parsley, Spinach, Chives, Alfalfa
Is it aight to feed commercial primate, canine and feline diets to carnivorous tortoises and lizards?
Naw, dont do that. Way too high in protein. Sounds like you just want them to have Gout.
What are some things you can feed carnivorous Turtles and Terrapins?
What should you avoid?
Feed lean mice & chicken to larger species.
Shrimps, prawns and whole fish to most.
Avoid shellfish with poor Ca:P, or fish with excess thiaminase
Which of these would not be part of an initial diagnostic workup?
- PE
- CBC
- Plasma BioChem
- Fecal
- Radiographs
- Surgery
Surgery is not part of an INITIAL diagnostic workup.
What is wrong with how this small lizard is being restrained?
Back legs look like they are not against the body. Otherwise good technique
Want the head held firmly between the thumb and index finger
Hold body in the cup of hand.
Hold front and back legs against the body.
Avoid Grabbing the tail
Medium Sized Lizard restraint differs. It looks like this.
Thie body is supported along the forarm, with the tail tucked in between the elbow and your body.
Be aware of where thier face is, incase they try to bite your chest or belly.
Some lizards will lose thier tails as a self defense mechanism or when stressed. A new tail will grow back and be made of cartilage instead of bone/vertebrae. What is this tail loosing called?
Tail Autotomy
How should you restrain a nonvenomous snake?
Hold head with the index finger and thumb around the madible
Support the body every 3 ft
How do you handle a deadly snake?
Magically and safely shove its head a good way up a tube.
How should you hold a “small” crocodilian?
- Tape the mouth shut
- Hold at the tail base and neck
What is the best way to handle a small chelonian?
What about a large one?
Small: grasp the lateral margins of the carapace for terresttrial
grasp carapace just caudal to head and between the rear flippers for aquatic. Orient them vertically to get them calmer.
Adults: Can be huge, needs many people. Be mindful of the head and flippers
Students should be familiar with the physical exam process and be able to perform a physical examination on a reptile patient
Get weight
Observe respiration (only croc have a pseudo-disphragm)
Get temp via deep cloacal
Get HR and rhythm via stethoscope, pulse ox cloacal probe, doppler probe around thoracic inlet
Check them from the nares to the tail
Which reptiles have complete tracheal rings, thus making you want to avoid inflating a trach tube should you use one?
Crocs and Chelonians
T/F: In reptile lungs, the cranial lungs are used for gas exchange, while the caudal lungs are used for storage.
True
T/F: Reptiles have three chambered hearts
False
All reptiles but Croc have three chambered hearts. Crocs have 4 chambers. Though there is communication between the Ventricles.
What kind of ears do Reptiles have?
External Ear - Lizards & Crocs
External tympanum - Cheloanians and Lizards
Inner ear Only - Snakes
Which reptiles have Brille (spectacle) eyes?
Snakes
Why would putting atropine drops into either Reptilian or Avian eyes not likely dialate the pupil?
Because the Irises are made of skeletal muscle (nicotinic receptors).
Atropine affects smooth muscle (muscarinic receptors).
T/F: Reptiles and Birds lack a consensual PLR
True
What is Jacobson’s organ?
A vomeronsal organ innervated by the olfactory nerve that opens directly into the mouth.
Which reptiles lack teeth?
Chelonians
they have a sharp tomia instead
T/F: Venomous snakes have 4 rows of teeth in the uppper arcade and 2 in the lower.
False
Venomous have 2 rows in both upper and lower arcade.
Nonvenomous have 4 rows in the upper aracde and 2 in the lower.