Practical techniques are required to monitor invasive animals, which are often cryptic and occur at low density. Camera traps have potential for this purpose, but may have problems detecting and identifying small species. A further challenge is how to standardise the size of each camera's field of view so capture rates are comparable between different places and times. We investigated the optim...

Since the beginning of the 20th century, researchers have been working to improve the understanding of gastrointestinal motility. The first major discovery was the observation of a migrating myoelectric complex that turned out to be a universal occurrence among vertebrates. Further inquires resulted in a detailed description of its development during different stages of ontogeny. Some time befo...

ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT A marked difference noted when comparing small mammals and exotic pets to their wild counterparts is the degree of complexity and interaction that exists in nature and the frequent lack of complexity and interaction in pet environments. While laboratories, zoos, and large-scale animal breeding facilities are encouraged or required to provide enrichment programs for thei...

A total of 429 specimens belonging to 9 species of small mammals, trapped in various areas of the Czech Republic during the year 2001, were examined for antibodies against leptospires. Antibodies were found in all localities under study in 50 specimens, i.e., 11.6%, belonging to 5 species. Antibodies were most often , i.e., in 42% of positives, found in Microtus arvalis. In Apodemus spp. and Cl...

A comparative study of quantitative kinematic data of fore- and hindlimb movements of eight different mammalian species leads to the recognition of basic principles in the locomotion of small therians. The description of kinematics comprises fore- and hindlimb movements as well as sagittal spine movements including displacement patterns of limb segments, their contribution to step length, and j...

SPECIAL NEEDS FOR THE EXOTIC SMALL MAMMAL PATIENT In general, basic equipment used for dogs and cats can be used on many rabbits, rodents, and ferrets. Most exotic small mammals tend to be very little; therefore, pediatric equipment is a must. For example, the heart rate of many exotic small mammals can easily be over 350 beats per minute. In many species, this would be considered tachycardic, ...

The lung is the primary organ likely to be exposed by inhalation studies and, therefore, measurement of changes in lung function are of particular interest to the pulmonary physiologist and toxicologist. Tests of pulmonary function have been developed which can be used with small animals to measure spirometry (lung volumes), mechanics, distribution of ventilation, gas exchange or control of ven...

By \V. C. YOUAYr, L. D. FAY, D. L. HowE AND H. D. HARTE K NOWLEDGE of the normal physiology of the various species of wild animals is essential for the study of disease, nutrition, reproduction and related subjects bearing on the scientific management of game animals. In the course of our work on disease and nutrition in game species we have frequently been hampered by a lack of information on ...

Estimates of body condition in mammals may be constructed from measures of skeletal size and body mass. We illustrate the methodology for doing this using data from two populations of feral house mice (Mus domesticus) in Australia, and point out an erroneous method that has commonly been used in the literature. Indices of condition for individual house mice were not correlated with the fat cont...