Short description
Examines the welfare of captive reptiles and discusses the positive and negative implications of general husbandry and research programmes. The book provides comprehensive accounts of aspects such as physiology, physical stress, diet, veterinary and environmental issues, and normal behaviour.
Long description
There have been numerous improvements in practical methods of captive reptile care during since the 1960s. Improvements have often been accompanied by advances in the knowledge of reptilian biology, but the recognition of the importance of welfare needs of the individual have been largely overlooked. This book fully examines the welfare of captive reptiles and discusses the positive and negative implications of general husbandry and research programmes. The editors have drawn together an international group of contributors providing clearly written and comprehensive accounts of aspects such as physiology, physical stress, diet, veterinary and environmental issues, normal behaviour, psychological stress and informed design in research.
Review
The narratives are well written and sufficiently user-friendly to be read by almost anyone who raises reptiles. The book will be particularly useful for vertebrate zoologists, veterinarians, reptile breeders, and zoo keepers.' Choice This book is a welcome addition to the steadily increasing library of herpetological literature ... an impressive international group of contributors are to be found within.' The Veterinary Record The editors are acknowledged experts in this field, and a great deal of care has gone into the production of this book, involving 17 contributors in addition to the editors.' CAB International, Veterinary Bulletin This book is an interesting early examination of the animal welfare aspects of working with reptiles in captivity and also in nature.' The Herpetological Journal To review such a packed volume is difficult indeed, in order to give the correct credence to its excellence ... a most important step forward in the cataloguing of existing knowledge on the subject ... essential reading for all workers in the field ...' UWAF
Table of contents
- Introduction: Health and welfare of captive reptiles, Clifford Warwick, Fredric L. Frye and James B. Murphy. Part 1 Physiology and functional anatomy, Harvey B. Lillywhite and Robert E. Gatten. Part 2 Biology of stress: interactions with reproduction, immunology and intermediary metabolism, Louis J. Guillette Jr, Andrew A. Rooney, and Alison Cree. Part 3 Nutritional considerations, Fredric L. Frye. Part 4 Veterinary perspectives and techniques in husbandry and research, John E. Cooper and David L. Williams. Part 5 Naturalistic versus clinical environments in husbandry and research, Clifford Warwick and Catrina Steedman. Part 6 Normal behaviour, James C. Gillingham. Part 7 Effects of ontogenetic processes and rearing conditions on ethology, Gordon M. Burghardt and Donna Layne. Part 8 Behavioural consequences of husbandry manipulation : indicators of arousal quiescence, and environmental awareness, David Chiszar, W. Thomas Tomlinson, Hobart M. Smith, James B. Murphy and Charles W. Radcliffe. Part 9 Psychological and behavioural principles and problems, Clifford Warwick. Part 10 Ethologically informed design in husbandry and research, Neil Greenberg. Part 11 Miscellaneous factors affecting health and welfare, Phillip C. Arena and Clifford Warwick.