avian and reptile

budgie

• origin

• how many years in captivity

• features of males and females

• origin is australia

• can live 10-15 years in captivity

• males have a blue cere at the top of their beak

• females and juveniles have a brown pink cere

cockatiel

• origin

• how many years in captivity

• feature of adult male

• feature of female

• originate from australia

• 15-25 years in captivity

• adult males have bright red cheeks

• females have paler cheeks and bar like markings under the wings and tail

lovebird

origin

• origin africa

• pair bonding

• number of different species

ringneck parakeet

• africa and indian subcontinent

• wild population in the uk

african grey parrot

• what are the 2 types

• how many years in captivity

• equatorial africa

• larger congo grey and the smaller timneh grey

• 40-60 years in captivity

amazon parrot

• origin

• lifespan in captivity

• central and south america

• 50-80 years in captivity

macaw

• central and south america

• powerful beak

cockatoo

• size

• origin

• behavioural features

• medium large

• origin australia

• intelligent

• loud and demanding

passerines and pigeons

• passerines include canaries and finches and blackbirds

• social

parrot behaviour

• head bobbing can indicate anxiety or be a precursor to regurgitation in an adult bird

• adult birds regurgitate to their mate as a normal behaviour and some will to human if no avian mate

snakes

• variety of habitats

• diurnal or nocturnal

• some are active, many sit and wait to ambush prey

• may kill prey by constriction or venom

• male snakes have a longer tail which is wider just below the cloaca

• probing the hemipenes is the best method for sexing a snake

• in males a probe will pass 9-12 scales

• in females it will only pass 4-6 scales

corn snake

• origin

• pattern and where

• how many years in captivity

• origin north america

• variety of colours

• most have a classic checkerboard pattern on their ventrum

• 15-20 years in captivity

royal python

• origin

• what do they do when threatened

• how many years in captivity

• west and central africa

• curl into a ball when threatened

• 20-30 years in captivity

grass snake

• non venomous

• Uk

• green colour with a yellow and black collar, pale ventrum and dark markings down the sides

adders

• colour

• pattern

• eye colour

• only venomous snake found in the uk

• grey colour, distinct dark zig zag pattern down its back

• red eyes

lizards

• variety of habitats

• diurnal or nocturnal

• range of defensive

• some may drop their tail

bearded dragon

• origin

• how many years in captivity

• australia

• bear can puff up and darken

• 7-12 years in captivity

leopard gecko

• origin

• years

• afghanistan, pakistan, iran, india, nepal

• crepuscular lifestyle in crevices between rocks and dry grassland and desert regions

• 6-15 years

crested gecko

• origin

• nocturnal diurnal or crepuscular

• eye

• how many years in captivity

• new caledonia

• nocturnal

• no true eyelids unlike leopard gecko

• clear spectacle over its eye like a snake

• 15-20 years in captivity

iguana

• where

• nocturnal diurnal or crepuscular

• where found normally

• central and south america

• diurnal

• often found up trees and near water

chameleon

• origin

• africa, some parts of southern europe and southern asia

• colour changing

blue tongued skink

• origin

• nocturnal diurnal or crepuscular

• where usually found

• australia

• blue tongue

• diurnal

• often found on the ground under bark and vegetation

sexing a lizard

• varies between species

• in some soecies males have larger femoral pores and hemipenile bulges at their tail base with a groove in between

chelonians

• reptiles with shells

• species specific behaviours eg biting and climbing

• most withdraw into shell when threatened

• some may hibernate

tortoise

• live on land

• some hibernate, some do not

• common species that hibernate include the hermanns, spur thighed and horsfield

terrapin

• semi aquatic living in or around fresh or brackish water

• often have flatter shells than tortoise to be more streamlined for swimming

turtle

• marine env

• spend most of their lives at sea only returning to land to lay eggs

• limb are adapted for swimming with a flipper like appearance

sexing a tortoise

• adult males usually have longer tails

• males may also have a concave plastron to enable mounting

bird handling

• keep restraint period short to prevent stress and overheating

• do not compress the keel as birds do not have a diaphragm- sternal movement of keel is needed for breathing

• ensure cannot flap wings and damage self

parrot behaviour

• raise their crest of feathers when excited, stressed or greeting

• when relaxed feathers lie flat

• pinning eyes show stress

parrot handling

• parrots have a kinetic joint connecting their top and bottom beak which allows them to put a great force on any item in their beak

• usually need to restrain head

• most need to be towel wrapped

• ideally approach and restrain head first before putting in transport container

step by step parrot handling

1. gather towel in dominant hand and restrain from behind, holding the head in your hand, thumb and finger angled upwards under the bottom beak

2. forceful hold may be required as they have very flexible necks and can reach down to bite

3. with your less dominant hand let the birds feet perch on

4. DO NOT hold the front of the bird as this could compromise their breathing. due to their strong beaks parrots can hold their whole body weight by their head so can be held like this

bird of prey handling

• use a towel and grip the birds feet from behind holding their wings closed with the weight of the towel and your arms

• one foot in each hand is best to avoid instinct of gripping one foot onto their other, risking puncture wounds

• avoid holding the bird at eye level as some use a stabbing motion with their beak and face

• protect flight feathers during handling and time in hospital- tail guards may be needed

passerine handling

• assess from distance first

• can move quickly when trying to catch

• ideally use paper towel or similar rather than bare hands to reduce feather damage

• only handle for very short times and oxygen supplementation may be necessary

• control wings and head with one hand

chicken and waterfowl handling

• often well handled so minimal restraint needed

• restrain wings to stop flapping when lifting or restraining

• towels can be useful

• ducks and geese are more likely to bite so control head as needed

snake behaviour

• many docilefast erractic movements= stress

• some bend into an S shape as if going to strike

snake handling

• if small well handled snake, scoop from underneath and support body

• if larger more aggresive snake:

• restrain head first then second hand or person on body

• for long snakes always have multiple people helping support the body

• snake hooks can be used with care

lizard handling

• most easily handles by scooping them up from underneath and supporting the body

• a towel cna be used for feisty lizards such as iguanas which often whip their tails

• some are able to drop their tails if threatened eg geckos

• compression on the eyes can elicit a vago vasal response which will reduce heart rate and resp rate and temporarily immobilises the animal.

• blindfold with cotton wool balls over the eyes can be used

chelonian handling

• normal defensive strategy is to withdraw into the shell

• scoop tortoises up from underneath and support body

• lifting up and turning over is stressful so keep in normal position as much as possible

• turtles can bite and scratch