South Africa Zoo Medicine Exam

what is the kingdom, phylum, class, order, and suborder for big cats

Animalia, chordata, mammalia, carnivora, filiformi

what is the family, and one of subfamily, and genus for big cats

felidae, pantherinae, and panthera or neofelis

what is one of subfamily, and genus for big cats

felinae, and acinonyx, puma, or other cats

What are big cats except lions

solitary- in captivity they can function in pairs and small groups if managed well

Anal glands big cats

territorial marking, social communication and stress response

reproductive tract for big cats

polyestrous and induced ovulators, males have spiked penis to induce

paws for big cats

digitigrade with paw pads and retractable claws (except cheetahs)

GI tract for big cats

strict carnivores (lack enzymes and essential amino acids) and short and simple GI tracts. Highly acidic stomach

teeth for big cats

carnassial teeth: all felids have the same dental formula

dental formula big cats

I 3/3, c 1/1, PM 2-3/2, M 1/1 in each archade

nasal planum for big cats

tactile sensor and olfaction aid

vision for big cats

tapetum lucid allows for great night vision

tactile communication for big cats

allogrooming in lions reinforces social bonds between individuals

flehmen Response communication for big cats

detect pheromones with Jacobson’s organ

pilo-erection (hair standing up) communication for big cats

triggered by cold, fear, excitement, pain, or aggression

vocal communication for big cats

alert danger, mark territory, attract mates and bonding

urine spray and tree scratching communication for big cats

marking territory

scent glands communication for big cats

release pheromones used for territorial marking, bonding, self-soothing, and expressing contentment or security (rhinos with poop)

ocelli communication for big cats

white spots on back-side of tiger’s ear like “false eyes” to prevent attacks from behind

what is the AZA accreditation- standard

exhibit design must meet all the physical, social, behavior, and physiological needs of the species

what should be taken into account count with the ambient environment with big cats

temp, humidity, lighting, water and air quality (monitored), noise levels controlled to reduce stress, daily cleaning, pest control

habitat design for big cats

grasses, bushes and trees, various natural substrates, marking and scratching, varied clean-up, environmental availability, safety and holding area

social environment for big cats

group composition should mimic natural structures, introductions require gradual acclimatization and observation to avoid aggression

behavior management for big cats

pos reinforcement training (operant conditioning) facilitates medical procedures and reduces stress. environmental enrichment increases natural behaviors and reduces stereotypic behaviors and stress

what subfamily meows

felinae

nutrition for big cats

majority are opportunistic hunters(can’t replicate in captivity), analyzed routinely (BCS, fecal), always fresh uncontaminated food, feeding schedules may cause stress and carcass feeding can stimulate natural behaviors, appropriate balance of meat bones, organs, vitamins and mineral

type of meats for big cats

meat mixes, whole prey, bones, carcasses, commercial diets with supplementation

nutritional deficiencies

taurine: feline central retinal degeneration (FCRD), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), delayed growth, fetal abnormalities

niacin: dermatitis and oral mucosa ulceration, to diarrhea and death

hypovitaminosis A: osteopathy and ataxia

thiamin deficiency (B1): anorexia and ataxia

calcium-phosphorus: imbalances can lead to metabolic bone disease

BCS for big cats

1- very thin 2- underweight 3- ideal 4- overweight 5-obese

veterinary care big cats

preventive care (vaccines, deworming, parasite control and check-ups), quarantine protocols, immobilization techniques (chemical capture), monitoring for zoonotic diseases, chronic conditions, traumas, dental pathologies

common problems in big cats

dental disease, infectious diseases, herpesvirus, canine distemper virus, rabies, nutritional deficiencies, renal disease, obesity

reproduction for big cats

breeding should follow genetic and population management plans, monitoring estrus, pregnancy, and parturition is key, contraceptives may be used to control population size and prevent inbreeding

taxonomy of primates

primate anatomy

fingerprints, binocular and color vision, grasping hands, large brains, clavicles, 2 pectoral mammae

primate diet folivorous-

feed high diet, low energy, careful with antibiotics, susceptible to amoeba and clostridial infections, e.g. sifaka

primate diet insectivorous-

require higher dietary vitamin d3 ( metabolic bones disease= rickets). require supplementation and gut loaded prev, usb exposure recommended, e.g. tarsiers

primate diet omnivorous

most primates are this, some primates hunt, e.g. chimps

metabolism chimps

most primates are unable to synthesize vit c, deficiency= scurvy

scurvy clinical signs

gingival hemorrhage, loose teeth, fractures, anemia, decreased WBC activity

primate reproduction

single offspring (except for callitrichids>twins), menstrual cycles, sexual swelling/coloration of skin, contraception isn’t possible

primate behavior

extended life span, long gestation, prolonged maturation, infanticide, use tools, tactical deception, live in groups, structure dominance hierarchy, social relationships (also-grooming, alliances, long-term relationships)

primate communication

multimodal signs, social context

primates strepsirrhini- prosimians

lemuriformes, lorisformes

prosimians primates

half apes, tooth combs, opposable thumbs and grooming claw, low metabolic rates, able to synthesize vit c, seasonal oestrus cycle

Prosimians- Lemuriformes

primates lemurs

ring tailed lemur, black and white ruffed lemur, indri, red ruffed, from Madagascar, some are adapted for vertical climbing and leaping, most diurnal, social, 16-33 years (captive), omnivorous but diets consist of mainly fruit

Prosimians- Lemuriformes

primates aye-aye

nocturnal, long finger>percussive foraging, solitary, no tooth combs, continuously growing incisors, non-seasonal estrus cycle, ICN:endangered

Prosimians- lorisformes primates loris

loris and pottos, Africa and SE Asia, short tails, limbs of equal sizes, brachial glands that could be potentially poisonous, nocturnal, 20 yrs(captive), diet: fruit, plant, gums, animal material

Prosimians- lorisformes primates galagos

“bush baby”, sub-saharan Africa, long tails, hinglimbs longer than forelimbs, agile, anal glands could be poisonous, 15 years, diet: fruit, gum, animal material

primates tarsier

Southeast Asia, Enormous eyes, carnivorous (inter vertebrates), IUCN- all VU-Ex

old world vs new world monkeys

old (catarrhine) = nose closer together, new (platyrrhin)= farther apart

new world monkeys

arboreal in tropical forests, prehensile tails, nostril far apart, small- medium size

old world monkeys

largest primate family, arboreal and terrestrial, nostrils closer together, cheek pouches, ischial callosities (sitting pads)

great apes- hominidae

no tails, big and strong, intelligent, omnivorous, sexual dimorphism (males larger), quadrupedal.

orangutan