Lab Animals, Pocket Pets, Reptiles, and Amphibians Terminology

acclimatization

adjustment of animal to a new environment

agouti

naturally occurring coat color pattern that consists of dark colored hair band at the base of the hair and lighter increments of hair color toward the tip

albino

animal with a white coat an pink eyes

altricial

young born or hatches very immature or helpless

ambient

surrounding

analogous structures

refers to structures that differ anatomically but have similar funcations

anogenital distance

area between the anus and genitalia

antivivisectionist

person who opposes surgery on live animal for research or educational purposes

arboreal

tree-living

autotomy

voluntary release in reptiles

autosome

non sex determining chromosome

axenic

germ free

barbering

behavioral disorder in which dominant animals bite or chew the fur of subordinate animals

barrier sustained

gnotobiotic animals that are maintained under sterile conditions in barrier unit

biohazard

substance that is dangerous to life

bolt hole

an entrance or exit in a rabbit warren

bruce effect

abortion of embryos in recently bred mice in order to re breed with the new male

calvarium

top of the skull

cheek pouch

space in oral cavity of hamsters that carries food and bedding

chromodachryorrhea

shedding of colored tears due to porphyrin release from the Harderian gland located behind the eyes of many rodents

crepuscular

becoming active at twilight or before sunrise

dusting

cleaning method in which chinchillas roll in dust

actotherm

animals whose internal temperature varies with Enviromental temperature

emission

discharge

endotherm

animal that generates its own heat to maintain a constant internal body temperature

enrichment

items added to an environment to provide an animal with a visually appealing environment

estivate

to reduce body temp, heart and respiration rates, and metabolism to dormancy in summer

exsanguinations

removal of blood or blood loss from the body

fixed formula

diets that are constant

fomite

inanimate carrier of disease such as bedding or thermometers

fur slip

shedding of hair patches from rough handling of chinchillas

fuzzy

mouse or rat pup with a slight coat of fur

genome

one complete copy of the genetic information in a cell

genotype

genetic makeup of an individual for a particular trait

gnotobiotic

said of germ free animals that have been introduced to one or two known nonpathogenic microorganisms

heliotherm

animals that actively seek out sunlight for heat

herpetology

study of reptiles and amphibians

heterozygous

having two different genes for a given genetic trait

homeotherm

animals that maintain a more or less constant body temperature at all times

homologous structures

having a common origin but different functions in different species

homozygous

having two identical genes for a given genetic trait

hooded

refers to a rat having a white coat with a black hood over the head shoulders and pigmented eyes

hoppers

mice and rats that have a full coat of hair and are fully mobile but are smaller than adult mice

horizontal transmission

disease transfer from one animal to the others

hygrometer

a humidity gauge

hystricomorph

type of rodent that includes guinea pigs, chinchillas,and porcupines

in situ

at the normal site

in vitro

outside living organisms

in vivo

inside living organisms

latent infection

condition that may not be clinically noticed but under stress or poor health will develop into a recognizable disease state

macroenviroment

surrounding above the cellular level

metanephric

embryonic like kidney

microenviroment

surrounding at the cellular level

monogamous

pairing with one mate

murine

of mice and rats

parthenogenesis

development of an egg without fertilization

phenotype

physical characteristics of an individual

phylogeny

developmental history of a species

pithing

destroying the brain and spinal cord by thrusting a blunt needle into the cranium or vertebral column

pinky

mouse or rat hairless neonate

poikilotherm

animals who let their body temperature vary to an appreciable extent on a regular basis

polytocous

giving birth to multiple offspring

precocial

young born or hatches relatively mature and mobile

prehensile

adapted for grasping and siezing

preogenitor

parent or ancestor

progeny

offspring or descendants

propagate

to reproduce

rack

metal device that supports caging units

refinement

theory of inflicting minimal stress and pain to animals in research

replacement

theory of using cell or tissue culture or mathematical models instead of animal in research if possible

ringtail

abnormal condition in which annular lesions form on the tails of rats housed in low humidity environments

rosette

swirl hair growth pattern in Abyssinian guinea pig

rudimentary

incompletely developed

scurvy

common term for vitamin C deficiency

sexual dimporphism

physical or behavioral differences between females and males of a given species

shoebox

caging that has a solid bottom

teratology

study of embryo development

transgenic

refers to removing or synthesizing specific genes from one strain and injecting them into the cells of another strain

urethral cone

organ found in front of the anus of male and female chinchillas

urostyle

long caudal vertebra of some amphibians

vector

organism or vehicle that carries infectious agent from one animal to another

vertical transmission

disease transfer from mother to fetus

vestigal

said of a structure that has lost a function it previously had

warren

a place where rabbits breed or abound

Whitten effect

introduction of a male into a group of females synchronizes their estrous cycle

ACBA

American Cavy Breeders Association

ACLAM

American College of laboratory Animal Medicine

AFA

American Ferret Association

ARBA

American Rabbit Breeders Association

AZVT

Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians

LAT

Laboratory Animal Technician

LATG

Laboratory Animal Technologist

3 R’s

reduction, refinement, replacement