1. 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

2. 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

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

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

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

6. 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

7. Cites Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora http://www.cites.org/ ~5000 animal species ~28,000 plant species

8. 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"

9. 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

10. 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

11. Amphibians Frogs Toads Newts Salamanders Caecilians (clade Apoda)

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

13. FROGS American green tree frog – Hyla cinerea

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

15. 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

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

17. Fire salamander – easy to keep European and long lived

18. Axolotl – albino Failure of metamorphosis

19. axolotl - gold

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

21. Tiger salamander “terrestrial” Easy to keep Carriers of Chytrodiomycosis

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

23. Fire Bellied Toad Small South Asia Toxins –Children Diurnal Can tame up 10-15 years

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

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

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