Reptiles, Birds, and Small Mammals Flashcards
how can you tell the difference between a male and female turtle?
length of tail and vent position
where is the vent located in a female turtle?
in line with edge of carapace
what do male turtles have?
phallus: only visible if prolapsed or extruded
is there sexual dimorphism in lizards?
some species
what do male lizards have in their tail bases?
hemipenes
no urinary function
when are hemipenes visible?
prolapsed
where do the oviducts in snakes open?
into cloaca
what is vitellogenesis?
yolk production
what is vitellogenin?
complex lipoprotein taken up by developing follicles
when does fetal development occur with oviparous species?
after egg laying
what does it mean for a species to have viviparous reproduction?
eggs are retained in the oviduct until the embryos are fully developed and give birth to live young
what is reproductive maturity determined by?
primarily by size
what is the primary hormone determining oviposition?
arginine vasotocin
not oxytocin, but can inject oxytocin
when might we use oxytocin in reptiles?
egg retention/egg binding
oxytocin acts like arginine vasotocin
what do some male birds have?
phallus
where are the ovary and oviduct in birds?
left side only
what does it mean for a bird to be a continuous breeder?
breed year-round
what does it mean for a bird to be a non-continuous breeder?
yearly cycle
<yearly, opportunistic
what are determinate layers?
will not continue to lay if eggs are removed from nest or destroyed
what are indeterminate layers?
will continue to lay if eggs are removed from nest or destroyed
what is a common problem in some pet birds?
chronic egg laying
where is the shell of the egg formed in birds?
uterus (shell gland)
how long does it take for the shell of a bird egg to form?
20 hours
what is oviposition controlled by in birds?
arginine vasotocin
what is a brood patch?
patch of skin where feathers fall out/are plucked
very vascular
develops a few days before eggs are layed
what does it mean for chicks to be altricial?
hatch and completely dependent upon parents
what is the rabbit uterus like?
duplex with 2 cervices
no true uterine body
why should pet rabbits be spayed?
uterine adenocarcinoma is very common in rabbits
what do male guinea pigs have for accessory sex glands?
large seminal vesicles
what is the gestation of guinea pigs?
longer than other rodents: 68 days
when should female guinea pigs be bred?
so that have first litter before 6 months of age
why should you have a female guinea pig have her first litter before she is 6 months old?
pubic symphysis mineralizes and female will experience dystocia after 6 months
what tumors occur commonly in female rats?
mammary tumors
what can lead to urethral obstruction and death in male ferrets?
prostatomegaly secondary to adrenal disease
what type of ovulators are ferrets?
induced ovulators
what happens if an intact female ferret (jill) is not bred to a male during receptivity?
ovaries continue to produce estrogen: hyperestrogenism
what does it mean for chicks to be precocial?
relatively independent when they hatch
