ABSTRACTS FROM THE 24th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
INTERNATIONAL HERPETOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM, INC.CHARLES J. INNIS, VMD VCA Westboro Animal Hospital, 155 Turnpike Road, Westboro, MA 01757 USA 508-366-1444 (tel), 508-634-6997 (fax), clemmys@aol.com Endoscopy has been used for many years in both human and veterinary medicine. Only recently, however, has endoscopy been used to any extent in reptiles or amphibians. Endoscopy involves the use of a fiberoptic lens system or camera system to visualize the internal structures of the patient. Common uses in humans include arthroscopy (visualization of the interior of ajoint), bronchoscopy (visualization of the airways), and colonoscopy (visualization of the lining of the colon). These techniques are favored because they are minimally invasive, do not involve large incisions, and can be used to obtain tissue biopsies. In herpetological medicine, the veterinarian is often faced with a very stoic patient. Reptiles have the ability to appear quite normal externally, while actually being extremely ill internally. As a result, it is often necessary to perform some type of diagnostic testing to try to determine why the animal is ill. Blood testing, including cell counts, blood chemistry values, and antibody levels to specific diseases, is often helpful but is equally often unhelpful. It is possible to have a completely normal blood result in a very ill reptile. Similarly, radiographs ("x-rays"), and ultrasound images are sometimes useful, but only provide an indirect, limited view of organs. Because of these limitations, veterinarians may now favor endoscopy to allow direct visualization and evaluation of reptile and amphibian patients. There are numerous areas where endoscopy may be useful. In general a small incision (about one cm) must be made in the body wall under general anesthesia. Coelioscopy, or internal examination of the coelomic cavity, provides direct view of the liver, lungs, kidneys, heart, spleen, bladder, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and gonads. This technique can be used to evaluate these organs for abnormalities including organ enlargement, abscesses (infection), tumors, bleeding, etc. Visualization of the gonads can be used to determine the gender of individuals of sexually monomorphic species or juveniles of dimorphic species. Fieldwork on juvenile desert, Gopherus agassizi, and Galapagos tortoises, Geochelone nigra, and hellbenders, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis,has demonstrated the utility of endoscopy for gender identification. Endoscopy can also be used in reptiles to look into the trachea and bronchi to evaluate cases of respiratory disease. It can be used to retrieve foreign bodies from the gastrointestinal tract leg. coins swallowed by crocodilians). Finally, and perhaps most importantly, endoscopic instruments allow the veterinarian to obtain tissue biopsies of diseased organs. By obtaining biopsies, it may be possible to provide a more precise diagnosis and prognosis than previously available through other diagnostic testing. For example, based on bloodwork an animal may be said to have a liver problem; but with endoscopy, a more definite diagnosis such as a fungal liver infection may be made, thus allowing precise treatment for the precise problem. Advanced herpetoculturists should be aware of the availability of endoscopy and consider seeking a veterinarian that can provide this service if other diagnostic options have been unrewarding. |
ALAN KARDON, Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians San Antonio Zoo , 3903 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio, TX 78212-3199 USA (210) 734-7184 (tel), (210) 734-7291 (fax) In the spring of 1997, the San Antonio Zoo converted an all desert, mixed animal species' facility to an all amphibian species' facility. The idea for a totally separate building (out of and away from the reptile house) was based on a paper by Karl H. Peterson: The Global Decline in Amphibian Species: A Perceptual Deficit in the Zoo and Conservation Community. Bull. Chicago Herp. Sec. 31(2):22-26, 1996. This paper dealt with the distinct differences between reptiles and amphibians, and how toes and the conservation communities have historically viewed the two as one and the same. A separate facility is better able to highlight and educate zoo visitors about the uniqueness of amphibians. The 100 square foot building was renovated to display seventeen species including Japanese giant salamanders, Andrias japonicus. The public is treated to a cacophony of frog calls when visiting, courtesy of a continually playing CD. A 440 square foot reserve area affords room for additional species that are not on display. Some of the zoo's successful breeding efforts to date have included the Asian leaf frog, Megophrys montana, monkey tree frogs, Phyllomedusa sauvagei, golden mantellas, Mantella aurantiaca, and poison dart frogs, Dendrobates azureus, D. leucomelas and D. tinctorius. |
DWIGHT P. LAWSON, General Curator Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Avenue, S, Atlanta, GA 30315 USA (404) 624-5619 (tel), (404) 627-7519 (fax) The conservation implications of domestic reptile consumption are currently eclipsed by a focus on highly visible and regulatory-friendly issues such as the international pets and skin trades, and recently, for turtles in the Chinese food markets. While these issues are clearly significant and worthy of attention, the magnitude of domestic consumption remains unstudied for most taxa, and current regulatory efforts aimed at international trade practices do not address this underlying problem in source countries. Social and economic forces drive local consumption and make international exploitation of some reptile species possible. Compounding the problem, the profound absence of basic natural history information for even the most prominent and easily recognized species precludes a realistic assessment of offtake impact, hampering the development of effective measures aimed at protecting populations and species. To preserve un-charismatic species in the wild, there is no substitute for local, field-based conservation initiatives. To illustrate these points, I present the results of four individual research projects on the natural history and domestic consumption of five prominent but poorly studied Central African rainforest reptiles that are heavily exploited locally. Based on radio telemetry studies and social surveys conducted in southwestern Cameroon, I discuss home range, habitat use, seasonal activity patterns, and offtake of the gaboon and rhinoceros viper, Bitis gabonica and B. nasicornis, African rock python, Python sebae, and forest-dwelling hingeback tortoise, Kiniuys erosa and K. homeana. |
SAM LEE, Senior Keeper Department of Herpetology, Wildlife Conservation Society, 185 St. & Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460-1099, USA (718) 22O-5042(tel), (718) 220-7114 (fax) The Reptile House at the Wildlife Conservation Park, a.k.a. the Bronx Zoo, celebrated its 100th birthday last November. The zoo has been a forerunner in establishing and breeding many reptiles, notably large boids, elapids, viperids and chelonians. However, among the 15 species of varanids maintained throughout the zoo's history, only recently has the herpetology department been successful in breeding monitor lizards. This paper will focus on the husbandry and captive propagation of two species of monitor lizards that the department has enjoyed good success in breeding, the ornate forest monitor, Varanus ornatus, and Mertens water monitor, Varanus mertensi. Other species currently being worked with will be discussed as well. |
GREGORY C. LEPERA, Curator Herpetology Division, Jacksonville Zoological Gardens, 8605 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville, Florida 32218-5769 USA (904) 757-4463 (tel), (904) 757-2444(fax) Zoological institutions often include potentially dangerous reptiles in their collections, and in many cases, these animals are crocodilians or venomous snakes. A significant number of serious injuries to zoo staff members have occurred while working directly with such species, and despite improved husbandry methods, bites continue to occur on a regular basis. In 1994, the Jacksonville Zoo began major renovations under a new Master Plan, with multiple new exhibits being considered for reptiles. During the exhibit design process, we refined some techniques already in use for effectively managing these animals. Staff safety is always of special concern, and limiting direct staff contact with two of our most dangerous species by creating shift enclosures solved a number of management issues. Our Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, exhibit was constructed in 1996 with three off-display holding areas with concrete pools. The three areas connect to the exhibit through large guillotine doors, and each shift connects to the adjoining shift through a sliding door. The crocodiles were behaviorally conditioned to come to an audible cue for food. They can be maneuvered throughout the exhibit, as well as into and between shifts by making a loud popping sound that is somewhat reminiscent of a juvenile crocodile. Most crocodilians can be conditioned in this manner, allowing the animals to be locked off-display, and creating an extra margin of safety for staff during routine servicing of exhibits. Shifts are especially useful with large, agile elapids, and are regularly incorporated as a management tool for these animals. The shift boxes that we use for our west African green mamba, Dendroaspis viridis, integrate several components into a single unit. The boxes have removable covers permitting visual access to the interior, and allowing staff to lighten or darken the inside of the box. Each box can be locked and removed from the exhibit. The boxes contain a lateral squeeze feature, facilitating access for injections, if necessary. A large PVC fitting with a sliding, lockable door accepts clear acrylic restraint tubes, making it much safer to "tube" a snake for closer examination. Getting the mambas to use the shifts proved problematic, and we began to explore the use of operant conditioning methods to encourage the snakes to utilize the boxes more consistently. Our ultimate goal is to have the snakes enter the boxes on cue to allow unrestricted access to the exhibit for routine maintenance, and we have made considerable progress toward that end. Conditioning methods have been used extensively in the captive management of mammals, but rather infrequently with reptiles. Operant conditioning in particular has promise as a means to increase safety while working closely with dangerous reptiles. |
MARK A. MITCHELL D.V.M., M.S Louisiana State University, School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA (225) 346-3108 (tel), (225) 346-5748(fax) The incidence of reptile-associated salmonellosis cases in humans has increased dramatically during the past decade. In 1996, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that reptiles accounted for 3-5% of the 2-6 million cases of human salmonellosis in the U.S.. In most documented reptile-associated cases of salmonellosis, the strain of Salmonella spp. isolated from the patient was common to the pet reptile suggesting the source of infection. The majority of the reptile-associated salmonellosis cases reported in the United States are diagnosed in immunocompromised individuals and infants. The increased incidence of reptile-associated salmonellosis has been associated with the increased popularity of these animals as pets during the past decade. From 1989 to 1993 imports increased 82%, from 1.1 million to 2.1 million animals. Unfortunately, little is know about the epidemiology of Salmonella spp. and reptiles. The increased popularity of reptiles with attendant risks of salmonellosis in owners and contacts of both clinically affected and normal animals merits study. |
MATTHEW MOYLE, PH.D. & NANCY KINGSTON SAURUS, PO Box 6746, Thousand Oaks, CA 91359 USA (805)379-3562, Mmoyle@gte.net Uromastyx comprise a group of unusual, medium-sized agamids, ranging from north Africa to the Indian subcontinent. These desert-hardened lizards are characterized by a stout head, a heavy-set body and a unique spiny tail. Most species are attractively colored while a few, such as U. acanthinurus and U. ocellatus ornatus, are endowed with spectacular and highly variable hues including red, yellow, orange, green and blue. Consequently, Uromastyx have been well represented in the pet trade for decades, with several species being subjected to massive exports from their countries of origin in the last ten years. The entire genus is listed under CITES Appendix II, however the status of wild populations in the face of recent intense collecting for the pet trade is not clear. Despite their exposure to herpetoculture, Uromastyx are seldom bred in captivity. This could be due to a poor understanding of basic maintenance and propagation requirements for this genus. We describe here the ingredients of a successful breeding program for U. acanthinurus that has spanned ten years through multiple generations. |
VICKY POOLE, Assistant Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians The Baltimore Zoo, Department of Herpetology, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD 21217 USA (410) 396-0441 (tell, (410) 545-7397 (fax), apoole@aol.com The northern tomato frog, Dyscophus antongili, is a large and attractive species of microhylid from the northeastern coast of Madagascar. Unlike the more common species of tomato frogs from Madagascar, D. guineti and D. insularis, the D. antongili is protected under C.I.T.E.S. Appendix I and endangered in its native country as a result of over-collecting for the pet industry and habitat loss. Jeopardized by a shortage of animals and a lack of genetic diversity, the ability to breed D. antongili has been vital to preserving the species in captivity. Researchers have successfully reproduced tomato frogs utilizing the hormone LHRH since 1988, and with the exception of one spontaneous natural breeding from a group of animals maintained in a year-round greenhouse environment, The Baltimore Zoo reproduced the frogs naturally through environmental manipulation in 1996. Over 4,500 eggs were produced by one female, of which 204 black and gold froglets were allowed to metamorphose. The frogs from this spawning and successive years have been placed in the collections of other institutions with the goals of pairing the frogs when new bloodlines become available and educating staff and visitors on the plight of this beautiful animal. In addition to captive reproduction efforts, The Baltimore Zoo has been actively involved in other D. antongili conservation projects. These include funding the construction of a tomato frog exhibit in Madagascar, as well as providing photographs for their educational graphics, and supporting the DNA testing of captive animals in order to determine exact lineages to minimize future inbreeding. |
PETER C.H. PRITCHARD, Ph.D. Chelonian Research Institute, 402 South Central Avenue, Oviedo, Florida 32765 USA (404) 365-6347 (tel), (407) 977-5142 (fax) Softshell turtles, family Trionychidae, are named after a relatively inconspicuous feature, namely the presence of only three claws on each limb. Nevertheless, they are in many ways the most divergent and specialized of all turtles, especially in their drastic shell modifications which include the elimination of all of the scutes and major changes in the bony carapace and plastron also. The softshell turtle occurs in North America, extreme southeastern Europe, Africa and southern and southeast Asia and Indonesia, and only reach south of the Equator in southern Africa and southern New Guinea. They show a remarkable variation in size, ranging from species that may reach maturity at 15 cm or less to some true giants; the largest occurring in Asia, and includes species which may exceed 110 cm in carapace length. We have made efforts to gather data on the gigantic and almost extinct species Shanghai softshell, Rafetus swimhoei, in Vietnam and China and also on the narrow-headed softshell genus, Chitra, long considered to include only a single species, C. indica, in the Indian subcontinent, with a second species, C. chitra from Thailand, recognized in recent years. But recent fieldwork has shown that the genus is far more wide ranging and diverse, with a chain of taxa extending from the Indus River of Pakistan to the eastern end of the island of Java. This huge distribution undoubtedly has gaps where watersheds are separated by high country, but nonetheless these gaps are considerably more narrow than had generally been supposed. |
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