Reptile

Electrocardiographic recording (ECG) of hatchling females and males of scorpion mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) subjected to restraint stress (2025)

The species Kinosternon scorpioides (scorpion mud turtle) has potential for commercial farming in captivity. Restraint is a stressful factor that can cause fatal reactions. However, research on stress in Muçuãs is scarce. Therefore, electrocardiography (ECG) is relevant because it allows...

Topics: RestraintAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: dos Santos Braga, B. S., de Lima Cardoso, D., de Araújo, D. B. et al. 2025. Electrocardiographic recording (ECG) of hatchling females and males of scorpion mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) subjected to restraint stress. Discover Animals 2(1), 21.

Influence of enclosure design on the behaviour and welfare of Pogona vitticeps (2025)

Complex or naturalistic enclosures have become increasingly accepted as those best-suited to improve an animal's welfare. However, designing such enclosures can be difficult if little is known about the animal in the wild, and enclosures that aim to replicate natural...

Year Published: 2025Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Denommé, M., Bakker, N. L., Tattersall, G. J. 2025. Influence of enclosure design on the behaviour and welfare of Pogona vitticeps. PLOS ONE 20(6), e0322682.

The effect of preference assessment-informed enrichment device colour on biting and foraging behaviour in loggerhead sea turtles (2024)

Although environmental enrichment procedures have demonstrated their benefit to non-human animals in zoos and aquariums, the field has given little attention to phylogenetic variables that might affect their efficacy. Recently, research with loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta has demonstrated that...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Bulla, A., Mahoney, A., Lee, V. M. et al. 2024. The effect of preference assessment-informed enrichment device colour on biting and foraging behaviour in loggerhead sea turtles. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 12(4), 232–242.

Sedation and general anaesthesia of crocodilians: A systematic review

Sedation and general anaesthesia of crocodilians pose unique challenges due to their aggressive nature, poikilothermic physiology, and specific anatomical and physiological characteristics, all factors that complicate crocodilian anaesthesia. This review aimed to systematically review the literature regarding sedation and general...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Crocodile & Alligator, Reptile

Citation: Kruuse, A. O., Markusen, L. D., Grøndahl, C. et al. 2024. Sedation and general anaesthesia of crocodilians: A systematic review. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 66(1), 56.

Novel method to investigate thermal exchange rates in small, terrestrial ectotherms: A proof-of-concept on the gecko Tarentola mauritanica

Thermoregulating ectotherms may resort to different external heat sources to modulate their body temperature through an array of behavioural and physiological adaptations which modulate heat exchange with the environment and its distribution across the animal's body. Even small-bodied animals are...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Mochales-Riaño, G., Barroso, F. M., Marques, V. et al. 2024. Novel method to investigate thermal exchange rates in small, terrestrial ectotherms: A proof-of-concept on the gecko Tarentola mauritanica. PLOS ONE 19(12), e0316283.

The effect of preference assessment-informed enrichment device colour on biting and foraging behaviour in loggerhead sea turtles

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Moving vs still prey: Do common wall lizards show any preference?

Among prey functional traits, mobility plays a major role, affecting its actual availability to predators: a moving animal is usually more susceptible of being detected than immobile or inanimate prey. With the aim of investigating the role played by visual...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Guadin, B., Gazzola, A., Balestrieri, A. et al. 2024. Moving vs still prey: Do common wall lizards show any preference? Behaviour 161(6), 417–439.

Moving toward evidence-based care: Measuring preferences in zoo-housed aquatic turtles using 24-h remote monitoring

Providing evidence-based care to animals is a common goal in zoos and aquariums. However, there are many understudied species with a lack of information available, which may result in suboptimal care for individuals of these species. Using preference tests to...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: O'Brien, S. L., Koenig, S., Cronin, K. A. 2024. Moving toward evidence-based care: Measuring preferences in zoo-housed aquatic turtles using 24-h remote monitoring. Zoo Biology 43(5), 491–498.

Changes in enclosure use and basking behaviour associated with pair housing in Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko)

Due to often insufficient information, reptiles suffer welfare issues and increased mortality in captivity. In particular, the impact of the social environment remains poorly understood, despite evidence suggesting its' importance for welfare in a wide range of social animals. The...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Szabo, B. 2024. Changes in enclosure use and basking behaviour associated with pair housing in Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 272, 106179.

Husbandry protocols for juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) based on stress response to stocking density and dry-dock time

When necessary, sea turtles are held captive for veterinarian care and research purposes. Protocols and basic guidelines have been described for husbandry of sea turtles with veterinarian needs but not considering physiological indicators of animal welfare. Because all sea turtle...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & Management, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Usategui-Martín, A., Liria - Loza, A., Valverde, R. A. et al. 2024. Husbandry protocols for juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) based on stress response to stocking density and dry-dock time. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 27(3), 589–601.