Exotics Flashcards

Question

Needs: Hunger and Thirst What forms can water be given in? (These are a few examples, if you know more then note them down :) )

Answer 1

• droplets • tarantulas must stand over their water • iguanas defecate in their water • waterfalls • bowls (different heights/depths?)

Answer 2

• incorrect size and shape of the vivarium - consider if they’re terrestrial, arboreal, or fossorial? • incorrect vivarium environment • poor hygiene

Answer 3

• burns from unguarded heaters • trauma from poor handling • secondary infection due to stress • ready-made perches • failure to consult a veterinary surgeon

Answer 4

• prior research on their animal • know if they’re solitary or gregarious • know their circadian rhythm • provide enrichment: furnishings for climbing, burrowing, basking and finding security • try to simulate natural feeding behaviours but be careful about live feeding and it’s laws • try to simulate natural exercise - think of taking a reptile on a walk or something similar This is all important to provide so the animal knows they can behave naturally. Increasing numbers of exotics are bred in captivity so they have no wild experience. This can hinder their ability to exist in the wild in the future if most only know a captive environment.

Answer 5

• predators and prey in close vicinity - consider if they can see/hear/smell each other • disturbance • poor handling/ill treatment • vivarium design

Answer 6

• over-handling an exotic animal can cause them a lot of stress, which can cause a lot of harm to the animal • weakens the immune system - secondary infections • abnormal behaviour • digestion and absorption adversely effected • endocrine problems (hormonal) • breeding problems

Answer 7

The reptile and amphibian pet trade association.

Answer 8

increased by 188% 2004: 132,385 2006: 295,229 2008: 381,376

Answer 9

• Colubrid snakes (e.g. corn snakes) • Leopard Geckos • Bearded Dragons • Mediterranean Tortoises These animals make up for 75% of retailed reptiles!

Answer 10

2004: 10 million crickets were farmed 2008: 20 million crickets were farmed Currently, over 1 million frozen mice are sold each week for snake food.

Answer 11

Captive farmed An animal bred on a farm, generally in its native country but born into captivity.

Answer 12

Long term captive An exotic pet that has been taken from the wild and has been in captivity for a minimum of 3 months.

Answer 13

Wild caught Animals which have been collected directly from the wild.

Answer 14

Captive bred The breeding of wild animals in controlled environments such as zoos.

Answer 15

• Producing young by means of eggs which are hatched AFTER they have been laid by the parent. • Remember: Ovi = eggs • this is the reproductive method used by most fish, amphibians and reptiles • amniotic eggs have a hard shell which protects the embryo, and a special membrane - the amnion - to prevent the embryo from drying out • little to no embryonic development occurs within the mother’s body • fertilisation can occur either internally or externally • allantois- an extra embryonic membrane serves as a temporary respiratory organ while it’s cavity stores faecal excretions • the yolk sac is for nourishment • the chorion is the outermost membrane around the embryo

Answer 16

Producing young by means of eggs which are hatched WITHIN the body of the parent. (Some snakes do this e.g. Boa Constrictors).

Answer 17

• Reproduction in which fertilisation and development take place within the mother’s body. • the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female • the eggs of viviparous animals lack a hard outer covering or shell • viviparous young grow in the adult female until they are able to survive on their own outside of her body E.g. the female Jackson’s Chameleon is one of the few chameleon species that give birth instead of laying eggs. They can have 8 to 30 live young after a 5-6 month gestation period.

Answer 18

The time in which an animal is pregnant.

Answer 19

A mode of reproduction in which a male organism’s sperm fertilised a female organism’s egg outside of the female’s body.

Answer 20

A mode of reproduction in which a male organism’s sperm are introduced via insemination and then combine with an egg inside the body of a female organism.

Answer 21

The mating position of frogs and toads in which the male clasps the female about the back.

Answer 22

• The process in which the young are produce from unfertilised eggs. • a form of asexual reproduction where the growth and development of embryos occurs without fertilisation by a male • the process occurs in plants, invertebrates, and in some vertebrates like certain lizards, fish and birds. (The New Mexico whiptail)

Answer 23

1. The males will become very aggressive towards each other and will assert their dominance by inflating their beards and through fast head bobbing. 2. The male’s beard will puff out and turn black. This is seen as aggression towards any other male and also as a sign of showing off for the females during breeding. 3. Arm waving gestures are usually shown by the female when put in with a male. This usually signals that she is submissive and is ready to mate. 4. Females have also been known to do push ups in response to the male dragon’s head bobbing. Most of the time this is seen during breeding season. 5. The females, once ready to mate, will lift their tails right before the males will start to breed them 6. The mating process can become quite rough. During mating, the male will hold onto the female with his front legs around her torso preventing her from moving. He will also bite the back of her head, arms and legs. The mating process itself does not take that long. • bearded dragons usually mate around February just after waking from brumation • their gestation period is 5-6 weeks • near the end of this time, the female will become restless and will stop eating • the female will start looking for a suitable nest spot. Good substrates for this is peat or sand in a deep tray with a lid for the dragon to feel safe • she will normally lay about 20-40 eggs • the female can also hold onto sperm for later egg clutches

Answer 24

1. Breeding happens throughout the entire rainy season of the rainforest, from mid-July through mid-September 2. The males first fight among themselves to establish territories which are then fixed for the remainder of the mating season. 3. During the mating season, males use vocalisations such as chirps, buzzes, grills and gums to get the attention of females. 4. They also show off their brightly coloured bodies. Touching communication is also an important part in their breeding. 5. Once the courtship ritual is completed, the female lays up to 6 eggs in a small pool of water. The eggs are encased in a gelatinous substance for protection. 6. The female will lay 100-1000 eggs per year and will produce about 2-12 eggs in each clutch 7. During the two-week development period, the male returns to the eggs periodically to check on them. Once the tadpoles hatch, they climb onto the male’s back and he carries them to a place suitable for further development. 8. The tadpoles are attached to the male’s back by a mucus secretion which is soluble only in water so that there is no chance of them falling off. 9. Eggs are known to hatch within 10-14 days. They take an additional 6 weeks to develop into adult frogs.

Answer 25

1. Brumation is similar to hibernation but the reptile can still be a little active during this time 2. This can happen normally during the winter months but if it doesn’t it can be brought on for breeding purposes 3. In the winter months, slowly over a couple of weeks begin to turn the heat down to 25-26 degrees Celsius 4. Allow the lighting period to decrease down to only 8 hours of daylight per day 5. Before staring brumation, it is important that the animal has defecated and is in good health 6. Any food in the reptile’s stomach will sit and rot in the lowered temperature 7. Towards the end of brumation start to slowly turn the heat up to normal temps and increase the daylight hours back to 12 8. The reptiles will be hungry and ready to mate after brumation 9. Breeding this way is more natural to most reptiles because it is during this time in their natural habitat that they would need naturally, and most reptile keepers have had more success rate when using the brumation period.

Answer 26

• these incubators are cheap and easy to make and can carry a good hatch success rate • most home made incubators are made from polystyrene boxes with either water in the bottom heated by a water heater or with a heat mat and thermostat • the eggs must be placed into a tray with some substance that holds moisture. Both vermiculite and perlite are good choices for this

Answer 27

• Hovabators are one of the most commonly used incubators. They are made from polystyrene with a heat cable in the top • Herp Nursery are another kind. These are a well-insulated cabinet with a built-in thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature • with all store-bought incubators, the egg still needs to be placed in a moisture-holding substance (either vermiculite or perlite). This is important to help keep humidity levels up.

Answer 28

Infertile eggs and eggs in which the developing embryo has (failed) to (survive) normally begin to (collapse) and (mould) within a few (weeks) and should be (removed) from (containers) where the other healthy appearing eggs are. This will help stop the (mould) from (spreading).

Answer 29

Hatchlings will often sit with only their (head) exposed for (24)-(48) hours before exiting the (eggshell) completely.

Answer 30

M - 22°C F - 31°C Even sex ratio: 26°C

Answer 31

M: 29.5°C F: 31.5°C Even sex ratio: 30-31°C

Answer 32

M: 32°C F: 26°C Even sex ratio: 30°C

Answer 33

The demand for live (animals) and (animal parts) has increased in recent years and dealing with it has become difficult. (Large businesses) deal with (illegal) trade through dangerous (international networks) with animals being (trafficked) like drugs and firearms.

Answer 34

(Illegal trade) is second to (habitat destruction) in overall threats against species survival.

Answer 35

Skin and bones

Answer 36

Meat and eggs.

Answer 37

Scales and meat. They are also the most trafficked species in the world.

Answer 38

Fauna and Flora in their tens of thousands are caught or harvested from the wild and sold as food, pets, ornamental plants, leather, tourist ornaments and medicine: • horses • dogs • farm animals • zoo animals

Answer 39

The wildlife trade monitoring network. • a non-government organisation • global • covers both animals and plants • they support biodiversity and sustainable development • they carry out: - research - investigations - analysis • they take evidence to governments, businesses and individuals to help ensure that wildlife trade is not a threat to the conservation of nature

Answer 40

The convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.

Answer 41

• set up in 1973 and launched in 1975 to regulate international wildlife trade for conservation purposes • it is an agreement, not legislation • zoos must have permits for the movement of animals (or their parts/tissues) belonging to species listed by CITES as endangered or threatened • they have a list of species that may be at risk or extinction due to trading

Answer 42

• behaviour • weight • body condition • appearance • posture • heart rate • hydration status • respiratory rate • urine/faecal output • locomotion

Answer 43

1. Recognise and report 2. Identify appropriate treatment 3. Monitor 4. Record

Answer 44

Procedures or measures designed to protect the population against harmful biological/bio-chemical substances.

Answer 45

• A state, period or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere are placed • Animals which have been exposed to infectious or contagious disease will be quarantined

Answer 46

• Cause or place to remain alone or apart from others • Identify and examine something and deal with it separately

Answer 47

• Keep something from happening or arising • Preventative measures

Answer 48

Actions and/or activities that are to taken to prevent or reduce the occurrence of something you have identified as a problem

Answer 49

• bi-parental care • mating season is between February—April • monogamous • litter size: 6-7 • males take active role in care/raising • females nurse pups • lactation lasts 45-60 days • pups will take food at 3-4 weeks • pups are fully grown at 4.5 months

Answer 50

• bi-parental care • courtship behind when male feeds female • clutch contains 4-6 eggs • incubation: 22-25 days • up to 24 hours for offspring to hatch • both parents feed offspring • both parents protect the nest

Answer 51

• mating ritual between parents mimics threat ritual • copulation across 11 days • gestation lasts 190 days • young delivered one at a time • still surrounded by gelatinous egg sac • remain asleep until egg sac touches substrate • independent from this point

Answer 52

• water • food • calcium • supplements • climate • temperature • light • humidity

Answer 53

• be aware of how the animal can be injured and how they can injure you • hold them so that both the animal and you are comfortable • hold them so that they cannot escape • carry out the procedure swiftly and efficiently • always approach small mammals from the sides and low levels to avoid mimicking the swooping action of a bird of prey

Answer 54

Encourage owners to (handle) their pets daily to (habituate) them to a safe, gentle restraint.

Answer 55

• use two hands • one hand around the pectoral girdle and the other around the pelvic girdle • clasp the limbs against the tail to hold it still and prevent struggling - the limbs should be help near the top: if held down by the feet, violent struggling could result in a fracture, especially if the lizard has MBD • wear gauntlets for this procedure to prevent scratch wounds

Answer 56

Metabolic bone disease

Answer 57

• cupped in the hand • control the head by holding between the index finger and thumb to prevent biting

Answer 58

• gauntlets may be advisable especially for large lizards such as iguanas - their claws are capable of nasty injuries • clear plastic containers (geo tanks) are beneficial for examining nervous species or species capable of rapid movement such as geckos • the vasovagal reflex may also assist with restraint - subdue a fractious lizard - involves applying gentle but firm pressure to both eyes using clean, dry cotton wool - a bandage is then wrapped around the head to hold the cotton wool in place

Answer 59

Top - carapace Bottom - plastron Shapes - scutes

Exotics Flashcards

(86 cards)