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| Aestivate |
To go into an inactiVe state during periods of drought or high temperatures. |
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| Aestivation |
A period of warm weather inactivity; often triggered by excessive heat or drought. |
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| Allopatric |
Not occurring together but often adjacent. |
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| Ambient Temperature |
The temperature of the surrounding environment. |
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| Amphibian |
A group of vertebrates whose reproductive biology is closely tied to water. Includes frogs, toads, newts and salamanders. |
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| Aquaterrarium |
A set-up which includes both an area of dry land and an expanse of water for swimming, as required by most amphibians and aquatic chelonians. |
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| Arachnid |
A group of invertebrates which includes spiders, scorpions, mites and ticks. Distinguishable from insects by having four pairs of legs. |
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| Arboreal |
Creature which spends part or most of its time off the ground, in trees for example. |
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| Autotomize |
The ability to break . easily or voluntarily cast off (and usually to regenerate) a part of the body. This is used with tail-breakage in lizards. |
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| Autotomy |
Tail-loss, spontaneously or by reflex. |
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| Black Light |
A forescent tube valued in vivarium surroundings for its ultra-violet output, rather than for illuminating the occupants. |
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| Brumation |
The reptilian and amphibian equivalent of mammalian hibernation. |
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| Carapace |
The upper shell of a turtle. |
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| Caudal |
Relating to the tail. |
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| Chelonians |
The reptillian group comprised of turtles, terrapins and tortoises. |
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| CITES |
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which regulates trade in wildlife. |
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| Cloaca |
The common chamber into which reproductive and excretory ducts open. |
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| Conspecifics |
Members of the same species. |
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| Crepuscular |
Active at dawn, dusk or in deeply shaded conditions. |
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| Cryptic |
Inconspicuous or secretive by way of colour, pattern and/or behaviour. |
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| Depositation Site |
The spot chosen by the female to lay her eggs. |
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| Deposition |
As used here, the laying of the eggs. |
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| Dermal |
Of the skin. |
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| Dewlap |
A loose flap of skin under the throat. |
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| Deworming |
Giving treatment for roundworms and tapeworms. |
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| Diapause |
A temporary cessation of development, often Induced by coolness or dryness. |
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| Dichromatic |
Two color phases of the same species, often sex linked. |
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| Digit |
Finger/Toe |
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| Dimorphic |
A difference in form, build or coloration involving the same species; often sex linked. |
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| Diurnal |
Active by day. |
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| Dorsal |
Relating to the back or upper surfaces. |
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| Endemic |
Confined to a specific region. |
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| Femoral Pores |
The area of scales running down the underside of the upper part of the hind leg, corresponding to the femur bone, especially significant for sexing lizards. |
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| Fossorial |
Digging or burrowing . |
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| Genus |
A taxonomic cIassification of a group of species having similar characteristics. The genus falls between the next higher and the next lower designation of "species." Genera is the singular of genus. The generic name is always capitalized when written. |
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| Gravid |
The reptilian equivalent of mammalian pregnancy. |
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| Heat Pad |
A slimline heater, operated under thermostatic control, placed either under or on one of the outer sides of the vivarium. |
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| Heaterstat |
A comhined heater and thermostat unit, used to heat water. |
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| Heliothermic |
Pertaining to a species that basks in the sun to thermoregulate. |
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| Hemipenes |
The dual copulatory organs of male lizards and snakes. Singular form: hemipenis. |
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| Herbivorous |
A creature which feeds primarily on foods of plant origin. |
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| Hermaphrodite |
A creature which has both male and female sex organs present in its body. |
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| Herpetoculture |
The keeping and breeding of reptiles and amphibians under controlled conditions. |
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| Herptiles |
A combined name for the reptile and amphibian groupings. |
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| Hetrogenous |
Not uniformly sized, colored or patterned. |
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| Hibernation |
A period of inactivity usually triggered in response to a fall in temperature. |
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| Hoppers |
Immature form of locusts or crickets. |
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| Hybrid |
Offspring resulting from the breeding of two species. |
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| Hydrate |
To restore body moisture by drinking or absorption. |
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| Insect |
An invertibrate whose body is comprised of three segments and six legs. |
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| Insectivorous |
A creature which feeds mainly on invertibrates. |
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| Interspecific |
Between two or more species. |
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| Intragroup |
Within a group. |
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| Invertibrate |
A creature without a backbone. |
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| Juvenile |
A young or immature specimen. |
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| Keratin |
The hardened, largely inert, protenaceous outer skin of a reptile. |
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| Labial |
Of the lips, usually refering to scales bordering the lips. |
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| Larva |
Immature sfoge in the lifecycle of some amphibians and invertebrates, hatching from an egg, and ultimately undergoing a change in form to become an adult. |
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| Macrocephaly |
A condition where some aged turtles develop greatly enlarged heads. |
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| Melanism |
A profusion of black pigment. |
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| Metamorphosis |
The process whereby a larva changes into an adult. |
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| Middorsal |
Pertaining to the middle of the back. |
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| Midventral |
Pertaining to the center of the belly or abdomen. |
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| Molt |
Shedding of skin, often linked with growth in the case of invertebrates. |
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| Monotypic |
Containing but one type. |
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| Montane |
The lower vegetation belt on mountains. |
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| Mouth Rot |
Infected area in the mouth seen in some reptiles in poor condition. |
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| Nocturnal |
Active at night. |
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| Nymph |
An immature but recognisable form of an adult invertebrate. |
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| Oviparous |
Reproducing by means of eggs that hatch after laying. |
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| Ovoviviparous |
Reproducing by means of shelled or membrane contained eggs that hatch prior to, or at deposition. |
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| Parietal Eye |
A sensory organ present in certain reptiles that is positioned midcranially. |
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| Parthenogenetic |
Able to reproduce without fertilisation by a male, particularly some geckos that produce female clones. |
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| Pelagic |
Inhabiting the open seas. |
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| Photoperiod |
The relative length of day and night. |
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| Physiology |
The science dealing with the functioning of living organisms or their parts. |
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| Pinkies |
Newly-born mice, used as food for reptiles and amphibians. Smallest size available. |
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| Plastron |
Underside of a chelonians' shell. |
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| Poikilotherm (Ectotherm) |
An animal whose body temperature varies approximately· with that of its surroundings. Such an animal may regulate its internal temperature by actively seeking external heat sources such.as the sun or warm rock. |
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| Poikilothermic |
A species with no internal body temperature regulation. The old term was "cold blooded." |
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| Polymorphic |
More than one colour phase. |
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| Preanal pore |
One or more pores located in front of the vent. |
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| Prehensile |
Grasping. |
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| Quadruped |
A creature with four limbs. |
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| Sclerophyll Forest |
A forest mostly comprising of Eucalypt (gum) trees which have hard, stiff leaves. |
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| Scutes |
Enlarged scales on a reptile; horny plates of a turtle shell. |
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| Semi-Aquatic |
A creature which spends part of its time on land, and also lives in the water. |
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| Shedding |
The term used to describe the molting of a snakes skin |
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| Snout |
The nasal area. |
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| Spawn |
The eggs of amphibians. |
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| Species |
A group of similar creatures that produce viable young when breeding; the taxonomic designation that falls beneath genus and above subspecies. |
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| Spinifex |
Spiny-leafed grasses of the genera Triodia and Plectrachne, which form prickly hummocks. Often called porcupine grass. |
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| Subcaudal |
Beneath the tail. Often applies to scales. |
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| Subspecies |
The subdivision of a species; a race that may differ slightly in color, size, scalation, or other criteria. |
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| Supplements |
Additives to the diet, usually comprised of vitamins and minerals. Used to compensate for likely deficiencies in the creature's diet. |
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| Sympatric |
Occurring together. |
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| Tadpoles |
Larval form in an amphibians life-cycle. |
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| Taxonomy |
The science of classification of plants and animals. |
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| Terrestrial |
Land-dwelling. |
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| Thermoregulation |
The regulation of an animal's body temperature to an optimum level by behavioural or physiological means (eg. the warming ofa snake's body by sitting on a sun-exposed rock to increase its metabolic rate, which then allows foraging to occur). |
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| Thigmothermic |
Pertaining to a species (often nocturnal) that thermoregulates by being in contact with a preheated surface such as a boulder or tarred road surface. |
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| Ultraviolet Light |
Component of sunlight which triggers synthesis of Vitamin D3 in the skin, and can also act as an appetite stimulant in many reptiles. |
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| Venomous |
Produces poison. |
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| Vent |
The transverse external opening of the Cloaca. |
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| Ventral |
The lower surfaces, or the scales on the belly. |
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| Vivarium |
The enclosure in which herptiles or invertebrates are housed. |
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| Zoonosis |
A disease which can be spread from animals to people (and less commonly, vice-versa). |
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