Reptiles - History And PE

Question 1

How can we determine gender in lizards and snakes?

Answer 1

Their rear; Males have pair of copulatory organs called Hemipenes, inverted into the base of the tail Females do not.

Question 2

How is a sexing probe used to determine sex?

Answer 2

Metal probe; lube well, be gentle… Insert into vent, direct it caudally twd base of tail;

If it slips into 1-3 subcaudals, and you cant go any further? —> female

If you can go as far as 9-15 subcaudals?—>male

Question 3

How do you tell the gender of an adult tortoise on physical exam?

Answer 3

Males: tails extend beyond carapace + concave undershell (for mounting)

Females: tails dont extend very far beyond the carapace + no concave undershell

Question 4

How would we determine the gender of red-eared sliders by claws and tails?

Answer 4

Males: long claws on front limbs + long tail

Females: short claws on front limbs + shorter tail

Question 5

How would we determine gender of an iguana?

Answer 5

Males: have pronounced femoral plugs + fat pockets and jowls (head)

Females: much less pronounced

Question 6

How much blood is needed for a CBC? Chem?

Answer 6

1 drop;

100 mcL

Question 7

Why do salt water species often have bilateral ocular discharge?

Answer 7

They’re living in salt water, so they have a salt gland and are excreting mucous

Question 8

How do we approach restraint in reptiles?

Answer 8

Identify their weapons first. Keep in mind they don’t have a diaphragm.

For venomous species: immediately in acrylic tube!

Question 9

How do we approach restraining snakes?

Answer 9

Nonvenomous: place index finger and thumb around mandible Support body every 3 ft Single occipital condyle —> predisposed to atlantoaxial subluxation

Question 10

How do we approach restraint in small lizards?

Answer 10

Grasp head firmly with index finger and thumb,
Hold front and back legs against body,
Hold body in cup of hand,
Do not grab tail

Question 11

How do we approach restraint in crocodilians?

Answer 11

Tape mouth shut,
Hold tail at base

Question 12

How do we approach restraint in chelonians?

Answer 12

Juveniles: Grasp lateral margins of carapace Grasp carapace just caudal to head and in front of the tail Adults: Numerous personnel needed Watch head and flippers!

Question 13

How often should reptiles get radiographs?

Answer 13

Every 1-2 years for morphometrics

Question 14

The glottis is more _____ in lizards and snakes, where as more ________ in chelonians.

Answer 14

Rostrally; Caudally

Question 15

In crocodilians, what is the valve that you have to manipulate and move out of the way for intubation?

Answer 15

Palatal valve

Question 16

Which reptiles do we inflate the cuff for anesthesia?

Answer 16

Snakes and lizards ONLY

Question 17

How do we get heart rate and rhythm on reptiles?

Answer 17

Chelonians: Doppler - placed in region of thoracic inlet between distal cervical region and proximal front leg Otherwise stethoscope or pulse oximeter cloacal probe

Question 18

What is a “Brille” (spectacle) in snakes and some lizards?

Answer 18

Fused scale over the globe as a transparent membrane

Question 19

What type of teeth do lizards and snakes have?

Answer 19

Acrodont, pleurodont; Acrodonts will not be replaced (shorter roots firmer attachments)

Question 20

What type of teeth do crocodilians have?

Answer 20

Thecodont; tooth sockets

Question 21

Nonvenomous snakes have _____ rows of teeth in the upper arcade, whereas Venomous snakes have ______ rows of teeth in the upper arcade

Answer 21

Nonvenomous: 4 rows;

Venomous: 2 rows

Question 22

T or F: Snakes and chelonians do not have a sternum.

Answer 22

True.

Question 23

Which male reptile testicle is more cranial?

Answer 23

Right

Question 24

Many reptiles have moveable eyelids. Which reptiles lack these structures?

Answer 24

Snakes and some lizards

Question 25

The tertiary spectacle shields that cover and protect the surface of the corneas of some reptiles are derivative structures that originate from the ?

Answer 25

Skin

Question 26

What’s the MDB for reptiles?

Answer 26

Hematocrit,
Total solids,
Glucose,
CBC,
Plasma Biochem

Question 27

What are the anticoagulants of choice in reptiles?

Answer 27

Lithium and Sodium Heparin (EDTA causes RBC lysis in chelonians!)

Question 28

What is the safe amount of blood to take?

Answer 28

0.5mL/100g BW

Question 29

For leatherbacks, what is the preferred venipuncture site?

Answer 29

Interdigital vein

Question 30

Preferred venipuncture site in snakes?

Answer 30

Caudal (ventral tail) vein
—> caudal to cloaca,
25-50% down tail,
45-60 degree angle on ventral midline

Question 31

Preferred venipuncture site in sea turtles specifically?

Answer 31

Dorsal cervical sinus (blind technique)

Question 32

Preferred venipuncture site for lizards?

Answer 32

Caudal (tail) vein

Also ventral abdominal and jugular vv.

Question 33

Landmarks for jugular venipuncture in lizards?

Answer 33

Along point of the shoulder,
just past the tympanum