exotic integument

Question 1

list notable qualities of ferret integument

Answer 1

• fur = soft, short undercoat with long and course guard hairs for waterproofing
• skin is thick with numerous sebaceous glands = classic musky smell
• so skin sweat glands, thick coat, therefore prone to overheating
• seasonal moults = coat thins and lightens in spring

Question 2

list notable qualities about rabbit integumentq

Answer 2

• fur = long and short guard hairs with an undercoat
• seasonal moutl = spring and autumn
• feet covered in thick fur
• large ears for thermoregulation
• scent glands = submental, anal and inguinal
• mature females have a dewlap

Question 3

name common integument diseases in rabbits

Answer 3

• rex rabbits prone to hock sores due to short guard hairs
• angoras prone to matting due to longer undercoat
• giant breeds and overweight rabbits prone to skin fold dermatitis and pododermatitis
• lops prone to deformed ear canal, ear infections

Question 4

list notable qualities of guinea pig integument

Answer 4

• coat variations
• smooth foot pads = prone to urine scald and bumblefoot
• hairless area behind ears = normal
• sebaceous gland = 1 cm dorsal to anus (often matted and sticky in entire males

Question 5

list notable qualities of chinchilla integument

Answer 5

• very dense, soft coat (up to 60 hairs per follicle)
• need regular dust baths to maintain coat
• fur slip = defence when handled roughly
• ears = large and bald

Question 6

list notable qualities of hamster integument

Answer 6

• skin very loose and stretches
• large flank +/- ventral scent glands
• glands more prominent in mature males

Question 7

list notable qualities of rat integument

Answer 7

• Zymbals gland at base of ear (between ear and eye)
• tail = large hairless surface area (important for thermoregulation)
• care for tail slip
• extensive mammary tissue in both males and females
• only females have visible nipples

Question 8

list notable qualities of the gerbil integument

Answer 8

• can experience tail slip if handled incorrectly
• have ventral scent glands

Question 9

list notable qualities of sugar glider integument

Answer 9

• a marsupial so females have a pouch with 4 teats
• have cloaca = single orifice similar to birds and reptiles
• patagium stretching between front and hind legs allows to glide
• scent glands = forehead in males, throat and paracloacal
• males have pendulous scrotum on ventral abdomen
• can get tail slip if handled improperlty

Question 10

list notable qualities of hedgehog integument

Answer 10

• spines = modified hairs
• hair and sebaceous glands absent in the spiny skin
• many sweat and sebaceous glands in haired skin and feet

Question 11

list functions of reptile skin

Answer 11

• display
• protection
• camoflauge
• thermoregulation
• fluid homeostasis

Question 12

what are the 3 layers of the reptiel epidermis

Answer 12

• stratum germinatum = divides and produces keratin
• intermediate layer = contains lipids
• straum corneum = forms cales and scutes

Question 13

what are the 2 types of reptiel keratin

Answer 13

• alpha keratin = flexible and delicate, found between scales and scutes and in hinges, often sites of infection and mites
• beta keratin is unique to reptiles, hard and forms scutes, horns and scales

Question 14

discuss reptile dermis

Answer 14

• contains pigment cells, nerves and vessels
• contains osteoderms (bony plates) in some species
• the chelonian shell is formed from about 60 osteoderms which are fused with the ribs and parts of the spine and covered by epidermal scutes or leathery skin

Question 15

discuss how reptile skin colour is different from mammalian

Answer 15

• contains chromatophores which are pigment containing cells that lie between the dermis and epidermis
• influenced by autonomic nervous system, hormones, light and temperature
• used in camoflauge, display and thermoregulation
• expression and distrubution of chromatophores varies
• different pigments include melanin (black, brown and grey), carotenoid (yellow, orange ande red) and guanine which reflects light

Question 16

what is the parietal eye in reptiles

Answer 16

• 3rd eye
• in many lizards is connected to the pineal gland in the brain
• responds to light
• thought to help with thermoregulation and hormone production
• usually located on top of head

Question 17

what does the term spectacles refer to in reptiles

Answer 17

clear scale over eyes

Question 18

what are cloacal spurs

Answer 18

• retained pelvic vestiges found in boids used in courtship

Question 19

why is ecdysis

Answer 19

shedding of the skin (influenced by thyroid gland)
- skin becomes more permeable during ecdysis and therefore more vulnerable to infection

Question 20

whaty are the stages of ecdysis

Answer 20

• the cells of the stratum intermediate layer replicate to form a new 3 layer epidermis
• lymph and anzymes diffuse between the old and new epidermis to form a cleavage zone = cloudy skin
• the old skin is shed
• the new skin hardens

Question 21

list notable qualities of amphibian integument

Answer 21

• amphibians wholly or partially reliant on water access
• integument is a very important organ
• functions to protect and sensory organ as well as having thermoregulatory and fluid balance functions
• damage or disease is serious and life threatening
• skin very permeable
• epidermis and dermis present
• epidermis is considerably thinner compared to reptiles and mammals and is easily damaged
• stratum corneum may be only 1 cell layer thick or may be absent
• dermis consists of an outer stratum spongiosum and an inner stratum compactum
• ## dermis contains nerves, vessels, smoothmuscle, chromatophores and specialised glands

Question 22

discuss fish epidermis

Answer 22

• unlike mammals, fish epidermis at all levels are capable of cell division
• accumilations of localised cornified cells occur during the breeding season in males
• mucous producing goblet cells within
• some species have club cells which secrete alarm substances
• cuticle consists of mucus and contains antibodies and lysozymes

Question 23

discuss fish dermis

Answer 23

• scales are embedded in the dermis and covered by a layer of the epidermis; thus a loss of scales will almost always damage the skin leading to osmotic balance problems
• specialised derivatives of scales include spines, stings, bony plates and lateral line system
• fins are modified structures of the skin that aid locomotion and balance in water