Companion Animal Physiology

• Cage considerations for reptiles

  Autotomy, substrate dangers, vivarium setup, and full spectrum light importance
• Cage considerations for amphibians

  Optimal temperature, toxic substances, and safety for stress reduction
• Cage considerations for birds

  Placement, differences between passerine and psittacine cages, and cage size rules
• Metabolic cost of flight

  High energy expenditure but efficient locomotion for birds
• Bird flight adaptations

  Anatomical features like wings, feathers, and respiratory system
• Aquatic and terrestrial turtle feet anatomy


  Differ in structure for swimming and walking
• Animal locomotion physiology

  Evolved based on natural environment needs; aquatic and terrestrial adaptations
• Hot rocks

  Can cause burns and temperature regulation issues in reptiles
• Chameleon's feet


  Specialized for grasping branches and climbing
• Full spectrum light for lizards and turtles


  Critical for calcium metabolism and bone health, especially for young individuals
• Morphs


  Genetic variations resulting in different color patterns in reptiles
• Autotomy


  Lizards' self-amputation for defense or escape
• Skin functions

  Barrier, environmental protection, temperature regulation, sensory perception, motion and shape, antimicrobial
• Fur density and heat retention


  Chinchillas have high fur density, making it hard to dry when wet
• Piloerection


  Elevation of hair follicles due to muscle contraction
• Spectacle


  A modified scale covering the eye in reptiles
• Plastron, carapace, and scutes


  Ventral and dorsal shell parts, and scales making up the shell in turtles
• Lizards shedding skin


  Necessary for growth; shedding is essential
• Spiracles


  Breathing pores in the skin of a frog
• Amphibians and reptiles thermoregulation


  Requiring external heat sources; tropical species need 76-82F, temperate species need 72-78F
• Preening


  The act of straightening and cleaning feathers using the beak
• Molting


  The shedding of old feathers and growth of new ones in birds
• Feather functions


  Flight, insulation, defense, display, camouflage, and waterproofing
• Dehydration leading to hyperthermia


  Decreased intravascular volume hindering heat transport to the body's surface
• Fever's role in fighting infection


  Body's response to fight infection by releasing pyrogens and activating enzymes
• Endotherms


  Animals capable of internal heat production; e.g., birds and mammals
• Fur's role in temperature regulation


  Insulation in cold environments and shading in hot environments
• Hypothalamus


  Brain structure responsible for maintaining internal body temperature
• Surface area to body volume ratio


  Affects metabolic rate; higher ratio leads to faster heat loss and higher metabolic rate
• Thermoneutral zone


  The range of temperatures associated with basal metabolism
• Vasodilation


  Physiological mechanism promoting heat loss by widening blood vessels
• Isometric contraction


  Muscle shivering that transfers mechanical heat to the body core in homeotherms
• Behavioral thermoregulation


  Adaptation through migration, body orientation, hibernation, bathing, huddling, or storing high-calorie food
• Homeotherm


  An animal capable of maintaining a relatively constant internal body temperature; e.g., mammals
• Poikilotherm


  An animal whose internal temperature varies with the ambient environmental temperature; e.g., reptiles
• Physiological functions altered by body temperature

  Enzyme function, muscle activity, and energy metabolism
• What is the main reason why core body temperature in endotherms must be controlled within a very narrow range?

  It ensures that metabolic reactions run properly.