Chapter 14 Flashcards
Rodents
Agouti
A rat hair-color group with bands of yellow alternating with dark color bands, It is the wild rat’s natural hair color.
Altricial
Born helpless and unable to care for one’s self.
Benign
Tumors that do not threaten health or life and do not spread.
Boar
A male guinea pig, chinchilla, or hedgehog.
Buck
A male rabbit, hamster, gerbil, mouse, rat, or sugar glider.
Clan
A group of gerbils.
Colony
A group of mice. Also called a nest. A group of sugar gliders.
Crepuscular
An animal that is active at dawn and dusk.
Doe
A female rabbit, hamster, gerbil, mouse, rat, or sugar glider.
Estivation
A type of prolonged sleep that prevents dehydration and overheating. The state occurs when temperatures rise above a rodent’s heat threshold. A period of inactivity that is induced by heat and dryness.
Fur slip
A chinchilla defense mechanism in which the animal releases patches of fur.
Fuzzies
Young rats and mice that have not opened their eyes and that have a small amount of hair.
Harem
A group of rats that contains one male and two or three females for breeding.
Herd
A group of guinea pigs. Also called a muddle. A group of chinchillas. A group of salamanders. Also called a congress.
Hopper
A young rat or mouse with its eyes open and with good movement.
Horde
A group of hamsters.
Kit
A young rabbit. Also called a kitten. Chinchilla young. A young ferret.
Malignant
Cancer with cells that divide uncontrollably and invade nearby tissues.
Mischief
A group of rats.
Monogamous
Having only one mate.
Nest
A group of mice. Also called a colony. A group of snakes. Also called a den or pit. A group of vipers (venomous snakes). Also called a generation.
Nonagouti color
A rat hair color group that includes solid colors, ticked or marked varieties, or any other patterned variety.
Pinkie
Newborn hairless mouse or rat that is used primarily as food for reptiles.
Precocial
Animals born in an advanced state and able to eat solid food, regulate temperature, and move around almost immediately after birth.
