Chapter_20.pptx

Chapter 20 Reptiles 20-1 Introduction • This chapter will describe the characteristics of reptiles • Four orders of reptiles will be compared • You will learn proper methods for handing and feeding reptiles as well as their housing and equipment needs 20-2 Characteristics OVERVIEW • Cold-blood...

Chapter 20 Reptiles 20-1 Introduction • This chapter will describe the characteristics of reptiles • Four orders of reptiles will be compared • You will learn proper methods for handing and feeding reptiles as well as their housing and equipment needs 20-2 Characteristics OVERVIEW • Cold-blooded vertebrates • • • • Possess lungs Bony skeleton Horny plates Have a heart • Reptiles date back carboniferous period 20-3 Characteristics PHYSICAL FEATURES • Three body types • Turtles and tortoises form scutes • Snakes cannot close their eyelids • Tongues of reptiles vary considerably • Either oviparous or ovoviviparous 20-4 Characteristics HIBERNATION • Temperate zones • Systems barely function • Hibernation for breeding • • • Stimulates ovulation and production of sperm Between 39 and 50°F Varies with species 20-5 Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins FAMILIES • • • • • • Chelidae Pelomedusidae Kinosternidae, mud turtle Chelydridae, snapping turtle Platysternidae, big-headed turtle Emydidae, largest family Cont. 20-6 Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins FAMILIES • Terrapins, Genus Malaclemys • Trionychidae, soft shelled • Testudinidae • Terrestrial • Dermochelyidae • Leatherback sea turtle Cont. 20-7 Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins FAMILIES • Cheloniidae, hard-shell sea turtle • Dermatemyidae • Central American river turtle • Carettochelyidae • Papua New Guinea plateless river turtle 20-8 Snakes, Pythons, and Boas FAMILIES • • • • • Leptotyphlopidae, thread snake Typhlopidae, blind snake Anomalepidae, dawn blind snake Acrochordidae, wart snake Aniliidae, coral pipe snake Cont. 20-9 Snakes, Pythons, and Boas FAMILIES • • • • • Uropeltidae, shieldtail snake Xenopeltidae, sunbeam snake Boidae, python Colubridae, water snake Elapidae and Viperiae, venomous 20-10 Iguanas and Lizards FAMILIES • • • • • Gekkonidae, gecko Pygopodidae, snake lizard Xantusiidae, night lizard Dibamidae, blind lizard Iguanidae, more than 650 species Cont. 20-11 Iguanas and Lizards FAMILIES • • • • • Agamidae, water lizard Cordylidae, 50 species Teiidae, whiptails Lacertidae, true lizards Scincidae, skinks Cont. 20-12 Iguanas and Lizards FAMILIES • • • • • • Anguidae, eight genus groups Xenosauridae, crocodile lizard Varanidae, monitor lizard Chamaeleonidae, true chameleon Helodermatidae, beaded lizard Lanthanotidae, Borean earless lizard 20-13 Crocodiles, Alligators, and Gharials OVERVIEW • Alligatoridae • Alligators and caimans • Crocodylidae • Crocodiles • Gavialidae • False and true gharial 20-14 Housing and Equipment GENERAL GUIDELINES • Habitats • • • • Terrestrial Semiaquatic Aquatic Arboreal • Terrarium, a vivarium, or an aquarium 20-15 Housing and Equipment ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SAFETY GUIDELINES • • • • • • UL approved Heat lamp placement Water heaters Switch box Appropriate fuses or circuit breakers Ground Fault Interrupters (GFIs) 20-16 Feeding TURTLES • Feed every day • Aquatic turtle food • • Commercial pellets Raw/live food • Land turtle food • • Herbivores Omnivores 20-17 Feeding SNAKES • Small snakes • • Small fish Insects • Medium snakes • Baby mice and rats • Big snakes • Full-grown mice 20-18 Feeding LIZARDS • • • • Crickets Mealworms Earthworms Larger lizards • • Ground meat Dog or cat food 20-19 Handling OVERVIEW • • • • Turtles can be easily handled Snakes may bite in self-defense Transport a snake in a cloth bag Temperament of lizards vary • • Wear gloves Don’t grab tail 20-20 Diseases and Ailments OVERVIEW • • • • • Bacterial diseases Shedding External parasites Internal parasites Vitamin D deficiencies 20-21 Reproduction TURTLES • Male climbs onto the carapace • Are oviparous • When young hatch • • • On their own Inherit instincts for survival Difficult to tell the sex of young turtles 20-22 Reproduction SNAKES • Oviparous, ovoviviparous, or viviparous • Little difference between males and females • “Popping” juvenile snakes • “Probing” adult snakes • Oviduct 20-23 Reproduction LIZARDS AND IGUANAS • Most species are oviparous • Sharp egg tooth on the end of their snout • Definite differences in males and females • No mothering instincts • Left to fend for themselves 20-24 Reproduction CROCODILIANS • • • • • • Usually mate in the water Lay hard-shelled eggs Deposited in nests Females guard nest Dig top of nest open May gather young in their mouths 20-25 Summary • Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates that possess lungs and breathe atmospheric air • To be successful at raising reptiles in captivity, it is important to duplicate the animal’s original habitat as closely as possible • Reptiles are ectotherms; they are unable to generate their own body heat and take on the temperature of their environment Cont. 20-26 Summary • If the animal appears healthy, if it is eating, and if it does not appear to have any parasites, chances are good the animal will survive for a long time in captivity 20-27