small mammal intro

rabbits

• lifespan

• when are they active

• 8-12 years in the wild

• dawn and dusk activity

types of rabbit

• dutch- distinctive white markings

• english

• rex

• continental giant

• mini/dwarf lop

• netherland dwarf

• lionhead

sexing a rabbit

• males have a longer ano genital distance

• genital opening is round and prepuce can often be excruded

• in entire males, scrotal sacs can be visualised when testes have descended

• females have a shorter ano genital distnace

• genital opening is slit like

mice

• what group

• lifespan

• solitary or group

• myomorphs

• shy and nocturnal

• 1.5-2.5 years

• group

hamsters

• nocturnal, some may hibernate

• 2-3 years

• syrian are solitary

• dwarfs may live in pairs or groups in wild but fighting common in captivity

species of hamster

• syrian

• chinese

• russian dwarf campbell

• russian dwarf winter white

• robrovski

gerbils

• when are they active

• environment

• lifespan

• diurnal lifestyle

• mongolian semi desert origin, burrows

• -3 years

• careful of tail damage

sexing a small rodent

• males have longer ano genital distance and testes if entire

• females have a shorter ano genital distance

guinea pigs

• what suborder

• lifespan

• hystricomorphs

• burrows, large colonies

• around 6 years

breeds of guinea pigs

• short haired

• skinny pig

• abyssinian

• peruvian

sexing a guinea pig

• females have a y shaped genital opening and a shorter ano genital distance

• males have a round prepuce and a longer ano genital distance

chinchillas

• what environment

• when are they active

• lifespan

• south america, high elevation

• dense fur

• climb and jump

• social

• active at night

• 10-15 yrs

degus

• environment

• when are they active

• groups - proportions of males and females

• lifespan

• burrows in semi arrid scrubland

• active in day

• social groups of 2-5 females and 1-2 males per burrow

• 5-8 years

sexing a chinchilla or degu

• males have large testicles either side of the prepuce and anus

• smaller testicles in degus

• females have a shorter ano genital distance

sciuromorphs

• chipmunks and prairie dogs

ferrets

• how much sleep do they need

• lifespan

• predator

• hunt prey in burrows by hearing and smell

• fairly social (domesticated)

• 12-16hr sleep

• 6-10 years

sexing a ferret

including what are females and males called

• males (hobs) have a ventral prepuce and a scrotum containing 2 testes

• females (jills) have a slit like vulva which enlarges when in oestrus

african pygmy hedgehog

• do they hibernate

• lifespan

• nocturnal solitary lifestyle

• no hibernation

• 4-7 years

dutch

english

rex

continental giant

often only live 4-6 years

• what breed

• weights

• features

• mini/dwarf lop

• mini rabbits usually below 1.6kg and dwarf up to 2.4kg

• pendulous ears and usually brachycephalic faces

• netherland dwarf

• short upright ears

• flighty and need exercise

• lionhead

syrian hamster

90-130g

chinese hamster

dorsal stripe

longer tail than other dwarf hamsters

russian dwarf campbell

russian dwarf winter white

roborovski

18-28g

short haired

abyssinian

peruvian

skinny