Reptiles, Birds, and Small Mammals

Question 1

how can you tell the difference between a male and female turtle?

Answer 1

length of tail and vent position

Question 2

where is the vent located in a female turtle?

Answer 2

in line with edge of carapace

Question 3

what do male turtles have?

Answer 3

phallus: only visible if prolapsed or extruded

Question 4

is there sexual dimorphism in lizards?

Answer 4

some species

Question 5

what do male lizards have in their tail bases?

Answer 5

hemipenes
no urinary function

Question 6

when are hemipenes visible?

Answer 6

prolapsed

Question 7

where do the oviducts in snakes open?

Answer 7

into cloaca

Question 8

what is vitellogenesis?

Answer 8

yolk production

Question 9

what is vitellogenin?

Answer 9

complex lipoprotein taken up by developing follicles

Question 10

when does fetal development occur with oviparous species?

Answer 10

after egg laying

Question 11

what does it mean for a species to have viviparous reproduction?

Answer 11

eggs are retained in the oviduct until the embryos are fully developed and give birth to live young

Question 12

what is reproductive maturity determined by?

Answer 12

primarily by size

Question 13

what is the primary hormone determining oviposition?

Answer 13

arginine vasotocin
not oxytocin, but can inject oxytocin

Question 14

when might we use oxytocin in reptiles?

Answer 14

egg retention/egg binding
oxytocin acts like arginine vasotocin

Question 15

what do some male birds have?

Answer 15

phallus

Question 16

where are the ovary and oviduct in birds?

Answer 16

left side only

Question 17

what does it mean for a bird to be a continuous breeder?

Answer 17

breed year-round

Question 18

what does it mean for a bird to be a non-continuous breeder?

Answer 18

yearly cycle
<yearly, opportunistic

Question 19

what are determinate layers?

Answer 19

will not continue to lay if eggs are removed from nest or destroyed

Question 20

what are indeterminate layers?

Answer 20

will continue to lay if eggs are removed from nest or destroyed

Question 21

what is a common problem in some pet birds?

Answer 21

chronic egg laying

Question 22

where is the shell of the egg formed in birds?

Answer 22

uterus (shell gland)

Question 23

how long does it take for the shell of a bird egg to form?

Answer 23

20 hours

Question 24

what is oviposition controlled by in birds?

Answer 24

arginine vasotocin

Question 25

what is a brood patch?

Answer 25

patch of skin where feathers fall out/are plucked
very vascular
develops a few days before eggs are layed

Question 26

what does it mean for chicks to be altricial?

Answer 26

hatch and completely dependent upon parents

Question 27

what is the rabbit uterus like?

Answer 27

duplex with 2 cervices
no true uterine body

Question 28

why should pet rabbits be spayed?

Answer 28

uterine adenocarcinoma is very common in rabbits

Question 29

what do male guinea pigs have for accessory sex glands?

Answer 29

large seminal vesicles

Question 30

what is the gestation of guinea pigs?

Answer 30

longer than other rodents: 68 days

Question 31

when should female guinea pigs be bred?

Answer 31

so that have first litter before 6 months of age

Question 32

why should you have a female guinea pig have her first litter before she is 6 months old?

Answer 32

pubic symphysis mineralizes and female will experience dystocia after 6 months

Question 33

what tumors occur commonly in female rats?

Answer 33

mammary tumors

Question 34

what can lead to urethral obstruction and death in male ferrets?

Answer 34

prostatomegaly secondary to adrenal disease

Question 35

what type of ovulators are ferrets?

Answer 35

induced ovulators

Question 36

what happens if an intact female ferret (jill) is not bred to a male during receptivity?

Answer 36

ovaries continue to produce estrogen: hyperestrogenism

Question 37

what does it mean for chicks to be precocial?

Answer 37

relatively independent when they hatch