Small Mammals (Rabbits, Rodents, + Ferrets)

Lagomorpha

Order of mammals with:

* Herbivores
* 2 Pairs of upper incisors
* Mandible narrower than maxilla
* Plantigrade hindlimbs
* No foot pads

Rodentia

Order of mammals with:

* Cleft upper lip
* Diastemma
* 1 pair of upper + lower incisors
* No bony symphysis between mandibles
* Large masticatory muscles
* Either incisor or cheek teeth alignment
* Lip folds dividing oral cavity into gnawing + grinding compartments

Myomorphs

Suborder of rodents - Omnivores - **Rat + Mouse like (includes hamsters + gerbils)**

Hystricomorphs

Suborder of rodents - Strict herbivores with large caecum for fibre digestion - **Porcupine like (includes G. pigs, chinchillas + capybara)**

Ileocaecocolic complex

The caecum + colon forming a spiral formation

Gut stasis

An emergency of low gut motility, predisposed by low fibre + high sugar diets

Cardia

The non-glandular region of the stomach

Fundus

The glandular region of the stomach

Sacculus rotundus

The expanded end of the ileum, unique to rabbits.

This is composed of lymphoid tissue

Ampulla caecalis coli

Junction of the ileum, colon + caecum

Ileocaecal valve

A weak structure dividing the ileum and caecum, preventing backflow of caecal contents during caecalo contraction

Vemiform appendix

The type of appendix found in rabbits - Worm-like appearance

Fusus coli

A thickened circular muscle with high innervation dividing the colon into proximal and distal portions in the rabbit.

Its role is regulating the passage of digested material

Wartzen

Wart-like structures on the proximal colon of rabbits. These increase SA

Segmental motility

Gut motility that chops up

Haustral motility

Gut motility that churns

Peristaltic motility

Gut motility that moves food forward + back

Caecotrophy

Modified coprophagia, where bacterial fermentation occurs in the midgut, but nutrients from this need to be re-eaten to benefit

Copulatory plug

Accessory sex gland secretions that plug the uterus of female rabbits after mating, preventing the sperm of future male rabbits from impregnating

Coagulating gland

Bilobed accessory sex gland that secretes a plug to prevent impregnation from other rabbits

Altricial young

Very immature young at birth, that are highly dependant.

This is seen in rabbits and myomorphs

Dyscoidal placenta

Type of placenta seen in rabbits

Philtrum

The cleft upper lip in rabbits

Scuiromorphs

Suborder of rodentia - Squirrel like

Limiting ridge

Structure dividing the non-glandular and glandular regions of the stomach in myomorphs.

In some species it is so large it basically divides into 2 stomachs

Precocious young

More developed young, following a longer gestation.

This is seen in hystricomorphs

Baculum

Os penis

Mustelids

Family of carnivores including ferrets, weasles, skunks, badgers, and otters

Hobs

Male ferrets - Larger and otter-like

Jills

Female ferrets - Smaller and weasel-like

Turbinate system

The internal nasal cavity structures - These are well developed and elaborate in ferrets