Animal- appropriate housing of ball pythons (Python regius) – behaviour-based evaluation of two types of housing systems – Hollandt et al. 2021 Abstract: Was looking at the effects of enrichment on snake welfare by testing ball pythons (n=35) in rack systems for an 8 week duration then flipping them to an enriched environment consisting substrate,Continue reading “Vivariums over Racks – Snake Welfare”
Author Archives: K of Kyrene
Snake Venom Variability and Methods Pt.2
Snake Venom Variability: Methods of study, results and interpretation- Chippaux et al. 1991 Immunological Analysis: Cross-reactivity is commonly used when talking about antivenom and it basically means “how reactive is something against something else” for example some studies used polyvalent antivenoms to determine the cross-reactivity in thrombin-like enzymes of various venoms determined by blocking theirContinue reading “Snake Venom Variability and Methods Pt.2”
Snake Venom Variability and Methods Pt.1
Snake Venom Variability: Methods of study, results and interpretation- Chippaux et al. 1991 Abstract: venom variability includes multiple factors such as: interfamily, intergenus, interspecies, intersubspecies and intraspecies, geographical variation, between individuals, seasonal variations, diet, habitat, age-dependent change, and sexual dimorphism. Introduction: Venom may aid in helping the snakes both immobilize their prey as well asContinue reading “Snake Venom Variability and Methods Pt.1”
Cognitive Testing Paradigms and Apparatuses for Mammals
Behavioural Methods to Study Learning and Memory in Rats – Quillfeldt, 2006 Phenomenological observations are observations that are based on phenomenon the subject displays and are then used to make conclusions about intrinsic mechanisms. Also called an indirect form of observation. Taxonomy of Memory Types: can be classified into many types: Function: working vs referenceContinue reading “Cognitive Testing Paradigms and Apparatuses for Mammals”
Snakebite Envenoming and Steps Forward
Confronting the neglected problem of snake bite envenoming: The need for a global partnership – Gutierrez et al. 2006 Most regions affected by snake bites are Africa, Asia, Oceania and Latin America. Global Burden of Snake Bite Envenoming: identifying the total number of snake bite cases is difficult especially in developing countries where reporting casesContinue reading “Snakebite Envenoming and Steps Forward”
Size does matter, in Brains
Brain size predicts problem-solving ability in mammalian carnivores (Comparative Cognition in zoo) – Benson-Amram et al. 2016 Abstract: There is speculation over whether a larger brain size does indicate better cognitive abilities, tested this by giving puzzle boxes baited with food and scaled the stimuli according to the different carnivores. Found that animals with largerContinue reading “Size does matter, in Brains”
Curiousity in Zoo Animals
Curiousity in Zoo Animals- Glickman & Srogues, 1964 Introduction: observed the responses by zoo animals when exposed to novel objects placed within the enclosure, and they used a diverse set of stimuli that varied in colour, shape, texture and odour. A cool little experiment by Brehm and Darwin (1874) where they placed a toy snakeContinue reading “Curiousity in Zoo Animals”
Free exploration on elevated plus maze reduces false entries?
Free versus forced exposure to an elevated plus-maze: evidence for new behavioral interpretations during test and retest– Roy et al. 2009 Abstract: elevated plus mazes are built upon approach/avoidance behaviour when exposed to “safe” closed arms and “aversive” open arms, using this you can assess anxiety. Objectives: they wanted to compare standard forced exposure ofContinue reading “Free exploration on elevated plus maze reduces false entries?”
The Language of Dendrites
The Language of Dendrites- Branco, 2011 In 1943 McCulloch and Pitts found that neurons can be considered like an on/on switch with only a binary function to either fire action potentials or not. They fire these action potentials when a certain input sum is surpassed, therefore -this was cleverly written- if neurons had a languageContinue reading “The Language of Dendrites”
Western hognose Envenomation (medical)
Local envenoming by the Western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus): A case report and review of medically significant Heterodon bites- Weinstein & Keyler, 2009 Abstract: western hognose snakes rarely cause serious injuries through their bite, however there are cases of some that cause significant local envenoming. The bite resulted in a marked edema, ecchymoses, lymphadenopathy, cutaneousContinue reading “Western hognose Envenomation (medical)”
Al3xandria 