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Snakes Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the common snakes kept as pets

A

king snakes, rat snakes, garter snakes, corn snakes, various pythons (**Royal or Ball Python) and various boa constrictors (especially the common Boa constrictor)
Boa Constrictor and various pythons become very big  not recommended
Recticulated python

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2
Q

why are captive bred snakes preferred

A

Wild caught will be more stressed, will have

- will not adapt as easily to the type of prey that is offered

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3
Q

Describe the behaviour of snakes

A

Solitary- house singly

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4
Q

what are the common boas

A

Common Boa, Rosy Boa

New world

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5
Q

what are the common pythons

A

Ball, Blood, Burmese

Old world

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6
Q

what are the common colubrids

A

King, corn, milk, Rat snake (New World)

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7
Q

describe venemous snakes

A 
Injected thru hollow teeth called fangs
Produced by modified salivary glands
Triangular heads = large venom sacks
Only 10% of all snakes are venomous
Venomous snakes Are considered more evolved…
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8
Q

describe the corn snake

A

Elaphe (deerskin) guttata (spotted).
Colubrid
Non-venomous
One of the first snakes to be kept and bred in captivity.

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9
Q

describe the ball python

A 
Originates from Africa around equator
Ambush predator-  curls up in a ball 
Prefer open savannahs to forest
Live 20-30 years
Wide body snake, about 5 feet long
Good eyesight -Have  rods, cones– see in UV light + sense infrared (heat pits)
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10
Q

describe the results of a healthy snake exam

A

Active and alert- eyes bright
Run hand down body  Should not feel overly skinny- no lumps or bumps
No mites around eyes or under scales ( tiny black dots that move)
Gently open mouth (use soft plastic spatula)  mucosa pink w small amount of clear saliva- no mucus

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11
Q

describe the integument of snakes

A

No skin glands but have paired scent glands at the base of the tail
Beta keratin- scales
Alpha keratin b/n scales- injection- is the stretchy part

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12
Q

instead of eyelids what do snakes have

A

transparent spectacle

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13
Q

what is brille

A

fused transparent eyelids

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14
Q

what is the function of the labial pits in boiidae

A

heat sensors

Pit vipers can detect changes of .002 ‘ C

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15
Q

what are the function of the lateral spurs of boiidae

A

lateral spurs which are vestigial remnants of pelvic limbs

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16
Q

describe ecdysis in snakes

A

14 days b/f shed Eyes become opaque- skin - dull color
Enzymatic lymph fluid is collecting between skin layers
Snake may be aggressive ( can’t see well)
Skin is more vulnerable
Best to Leave alone- do not feed

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17
Q

What causes dysecdysis

A 
Low humidity ( use humidity box)
Skin parasites (mites)
Old scars
Poor nutrition
Retained spectacle is common problem
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18
Q

what can cause a thermal burn in snakes

A

Wrap themselves around a light bulb

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19
Q

describe the musculoskeletal system of snakes

A

Snakes have no limbs
-except boiidae- spurs- vestigeal limbs
No mandibular symphysis + intramandibular hinge and other skull adaptations to be able to swallow large prey

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20
Q

what are a snakes adaptations to swallow large prey

A

Mandibular symphysis can separate
No temperomanbibular joint, instead has a quadrate bone–> articulates b/n mandible and the skull–
Allows the jaw to dislocate to swallow prey

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21
Q

what is the function of the quadrate bone in snakes

A

Quadrate bone is also involved in sound transmission

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22
Q

describe handling of snakes

A

Skull articulates with only one occipital condyle- be careful when handling around the head
Do not approach head on, but from the side

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23
Q

what are the 6 types of snake locomotion

Study These Flashcards
A 
Sidewinding. 
Slide pushing
Lateral undulation
Concertina
Saltation
rectilinear
24
Q

describe the cardiovascular system of the snake

Study These Flashcards
A

1/3 of the way down -HEART-it is mobile
Terrestrial sp have a more cranial heart than marine sp
Heart is common site for venipuncture
3 chamber- 2 atria, 1 ventricle-
but is functionally 5 chambered???
intracardiac shunting of blood
Continuous contraction of skeletal msl needed to return blood to the heart

25
describe the hematology of snakes
PCV around 20 -30% | Nucleated RBC, thrombocytes (like birds)
26
what is located in the cranial 1/3 of the snake
Cranial 1/3 Trachea, esophagus, parathyroid, thymus, thyroid, heart
27
what is located in the middle 1/3 of the snake
Middle 1/3: lungs, airsac, liver, stomach, spleen, proximal intestine
28
what is located in the caudal 1/3 of the snake
Caudal 1/3:gonads, kidney, cecum, colon, cloaca
29
describe the renal portal system of a snake
Blood from the caudal portion of the body goes to the kidneys Does not go thru the glomeruli Where does water reabsorption occur in the cloaca
30
describe the respiratory system of a snake
no hard palate “choana” No epiglottis- only a glottis Trachea has incomplete cartilaginous rings Most snakes have a single functioning right lung and a small left one- which is often air sac ( boiidae have 2 lungs) Tracheal lung- Faveoli--> gas exchange Trachea ends in air sac- regulates air flow when swallowing prey NO DIAPHRAGM
31
what do snakes do since then don't have a diaphragm
they use the muscles of the ribs and body wall to pump air in and out of the lungs.
32
describe the lungs of most snakes
The lung can occupy much of the snake's body between the heart and the hind end. The lung of most snakes is divided into 2 portions with the front 1/3 - 1/2 being a functional reptile lung and the remainder, being more of an air sac.
33
Describe a snake with pneumonia
Snakes w pneumonia often elevate their heads at a 45oangle and have open mouth breathing No diaphragm  can’t cough Pneumonia often result of poor husbandry
34
what are the sense organs of the snake
Cutaneous sense organs-heat pits Ears- no outer ear-no tympanic membrane, minimal inner earCan pick up vibrations Smell- Jacobson’s organ- forked tongue Eyes- spectacle- called brille
35
what organ does the snake use to smell, and how does it smell
Jacobson’s Organ Allow snakes to taste and smell in stereo Some have heat sensitive pits If a snake gets the tip of its tongue damaged it may never eat again
36
describe the eating portion of the digestive system of snakes
Extensive Salivary glands- slime the prey Esophagus 1/4 -1/2 body length Snakes that eat large infrequent meals maintain their digestive system in inactive state- metabolic rate increases 44x when feeding
37
Describe the tongue, stomach and intestine of the snake
Tongue is bifid, and can be pushed out through labial notch to catch odors to deliver to the vomeronasal organ “can smell in stereo” STOMACH- digests all but the hair Small intestine, large intestine- Coprodeum portion of the cloaca
38
describe the urinary system of a snake
Right kidney is cranial No urinary bladder Ureter empties into urodeum Uric acid is secreted- urecotelic No loops of henles ( can’t make conc. Urine) water is refluxed from urodeum to colon + reabsorbed (no bladder)
39
what is special about the arizona king snake
Can eat other snakes
40
describe reproduction of snakes
Female pythons stay with eggs and curl around them And do muscular contractions Cobras will defend eggs oviparous and oviviparous
41
What are the live bearing ovoviviparous snakes
Boas Vipers Garter snakes
42
How do you sex snakes
Sexing by using probes or eversion of hemipenes
43
How is venom produced
Produced by modified salivary glands
44
what is the defence mechanism of the hog nose snake
Hog nose- plays dead- foul odor
45
what do snakes do when frightened
``` Cobras raise up + expand neck muscles Cobras can spit venom 3 feet Rattle snakes- rattle Ball pythons roll up in a ball Cottonmouths- show bright white inside mouth ```
46
Describe the housing of snakes
``` Cage length no less 1/2 snake Is snake terrestrial or arboreal Escape proof Temperature gradient- POTZ Hot spot – use a heat gun to monitor Humidity level- humidity box Ventilation Hide box Substrate ```
47
What are some types of substrate
``` Cedar- pine shavings- not recommended Aspen shavings- not for humidity lovers Astroturf Sand-- desert species- feed outside Cypress mulch Newspaper- easy to clean Sphagnum moss for humidity ```
48
How do you provide heating and lighting to snakes
``` POTZ Temperature gradient Hygrometer Thermometers (2) Hot rocks ??? Heating tape ```
49
describe lighting for snakes
Quality-- UV light - full spectrum lights- UVA - for behavioral reason Do snakes need UVB ? Photoperiod Is the lighting a heat source as well
50
Describe water/humidity for snakes
Tropical species High humidity- greater risk of bacterial contamination Moss and mulch help to keep humidity levels up
51
What are some other cage furnishings you can give your snake
Hide Boxes Tree branches Decorative rocks humidity box
52
What are some sizes of rats and mice
Pinkies  Fuzzies  Hoppers Pups Weanlings  Small, medium, large Jumbo (Rats)
53
how do you thaw a rat/mouse for a snake
``` How to thaw: zip lock bag in hot water Do not use microwave WHAT size ?? How often to feed ( adult) :1 x/week or /14 days Obesity can be a problem ```
54
Describe feeding in snakes
Feed snake outside enclosure to avoid ingesting substrate Do not use your fingers Spot cleaning up after defecation
55
What are the protozoal parasites that snakes can get
Protozoal- Amoeba Coccidia Cryptpsporidia- cryptosporidiosis- midbody swelling, regurgitation and weight loss
56
How do you test a snake for parasites
Fecal floatation Direct smear Centrifugation technique
57
What are good venipuncture sites in snakes
Tail vein Cardiocentesis Palatine vein

Exotics (5 decks)

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