Reptiles and Amphibians

Genetics/ Overview of Amphibians

• have jacobson’s organ

• cold blooded animals

• salmonella

• amphibians around 7000

• born herbivores, die carnivores

Main Classes

• anura- adult, tailless (frogs and toads)

• caudate- adults w tails (newts and salamaders)

• apoda- tropical and legless

They have amphibian skin (most and water permeable… human hand can damage)

Chelonian (Testudines) 341 Species (this stars reptiles)

• terrapin- fresh water

• tortoise- land

• turtle- marine

Squamata (lizard and snaked)

• lacertilia (lizards)- 6000 species

• serpentes (snakes)- 3500 species

• amphisbaenia (worm lizards) 188 species

Crocodylia (alligators and crocodiles)

25 species

Tuatara

1 species (some say 2)

US Ban 2012

• yellow anaconda

• burmese python

• northern and southern african python

Lizards

• large diet variety

• diet supplementation is always required

• autotomy- tail falls

• need for calcium metabolism, vitamin D synthesis and pigment formation

• UV does not go through glass

• Metabolic Bone Disease in an Iguana- a serious illness caused by a lack of calcium, vitamin D3, or proper UV light

Snakes

• carnivorous

• can become obese

• dead v live prey- live can hurt the animal

• can feel vibrations

• King snakes- 3-6 ft, docile

• corn snakes- 4-5 ft, docile, many color patterns

• ball pythons- 4-6 ft, females are bigger than males

• red tail boa- 7-10 ft

Poison v venom

• Poison- you eat it

• venom- it bites you

Heating

provide gradient in the enclosure