Amphibian & Reptile Management Dr. N. Matthew Ellinwood, D.V.M., Ph.D. March 21, 2012 I OWA S TATE U NIVERSITY C OLLEGE OF A GRICULTURE AND L IFE S CIENCES

Domestic Animals? – Green iguana is kept as a food animal –Crocodile; $17 million impact (Louisiana) –Others? Companion animal management requires more closely replicating wild environments Habitat Food Regulation General Considerations: Some relevant to Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish

Feeding Amphibians Tadpoles –Carnivorous/herbivorous/omnivorous Adults –Visually oriented on prey (may require live insects) –Carnivorous Insects (supplements) Fish Commercial diet (aquatic fish)

Vivarium soil or peat water – think fish –dechlorinate –filter –temperature shelter

Food Infusoria – babies –Purchased or maintained cultures Earthworms Blood worms –Both a fish and amphibian commercial food Drosophila Crickets Mice

Breeding Behavior and Development Pseudocopulation –Amplexus Latin for embrace Fertilization can occur internally or externally –Internal fertilization accomplished by females taking up spermatophores –(Usually) water dependent development and with metamorphsis

Cites Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ~5000 animal species ~28,000 plant species

Threatened And Endangered Sentinel species Chytridiomycosis 50% of Salamander and Newts at risk 10% extinction of some classes –Rhacophoridae "moss, bush, tree, or flying frogs"

Amphibians Smooth, moist, glandular skin –most species absorb water through skin –some species breath through skin Must spend part of life in water Metamorphosis Eggs adapted to water environment world – 6,260 species U. S. – 230 species

Evolutionary Concerns Derived from Coelocanth/lungfish type forebearer Developed in Devonian period –~400 million years ago Top predators –Permian Triassic extinctions –250 million years ago

Amphibians Frogs Toads Newts Salamanders Caecilians (clade Apoda)

Frogs Spend most or all of life in water –green frog –Rana clamitans

FROGS American green tree frog – Hyla cinerea

Toads Develop in water Spend later life on land American toad – Bufo americanus americanus

Newts Spend (most of) life in water or marshy areas Regenerative abilities (see salamanders) Toxins: “She turned me into a Newt.... I got better” red spotted newt – Eastern newt Notophthalmus viridescens – easy to keep

Salamanders Approximately 320 species 2 to 70 inches in length Autotomy Limb regeneration etc (limbs, eyes, spinal cords, hearts, intestines)

Fire salamander – easy to keep European and long lived

Axolotl – albino Failure of metamorphosis

axolotl - gold

Axotltl Related to Tiger salamanders Research focus –Metamorphosis failure –Gilled and aquatic –Large embryo –Ease of production –Regenerative Named for lake under Mexico City

Tiger salamander “terrestrial” Easy to keep Carriers of Chytrodiomycosis

Caecilians Tropical Live underground 1 inch to 1.5 meters Seen in (aquarium) pet trade Sicilian eel Typhlonectes from South America (fully aquatic)

Fire Bellied Toad Small South Asia Toxins –Children Diurnal Can tame up years

Poison Dart Frog Name South America –Rainforests Up to 1.5 inches Ants Diurnal 3-5 years

African Clawed Frogs African Fully aquatic 6 inches 15 years Pet trade Research Carnivorous Good starter

Tree frogs Americas, Asia, Europe ~640 Spp Small Brightly colored Nocturnal –Special lights –Special cycles Hyla cinerea –Mississippi Valley