Glossary of commonly used terms

Aberrant - abnormal pattern that may or may not be genetically inheritable.  If genetically inheritable, it may or may not be a Mendelian in nature.

Ackie - acanthuris, as in Varanus (Monitor Lizard).

Adaptation - An inherited (genetically controlled) characteristic of an organism that helps it to survive and reproduce in the environment it inhabits. These are often interpreted as evolutionary changes in response to selection pressures present in that environment.

Aglyphic - snakes that do not have fangs for venom delivery.

Albino - this is an Amelanistic snake.  In mammals, this defect results in a solid white mammal with red eyes.  However, snakes usually have more than one pigmentation, so an albino ends up having shades of red, orange, and yellow.

Allele- one of two or more possible different forms of a particular gene.

Amelanistic - (or amel) this is a true albino snake. These snakes lack all black pigmentation. They retain the other pigments, giving them a color range from white to yellow to red. In corns, this is/was called a red albino.

Amniote - An animal that produces an embryo within a sac that contains amniotic fluid. Amniotes include turtles, lizards, snakes, tuataras, crocodilians, birds, and mammals.

Amphibian - an animal belonging to the vertebrate class Amphibia, including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians. Most species in this class have an aquatic immature stage and are terrestrial or partially terrestrial as adults.

Amplexus - A reproductive behavior in frogs where the male grasps the female from behind. This positions his vent near hers to assure fertilization.

Ampullary Organ - an organ present in the skin of some amphibians, which can detect weak electrical impulses.

Anal plate - a modified ventral scale that covers covers and protects the vent (see vent). May be one scale in snakes possessing a single anal plate or two scales side by side in those snakes possessing a divided anal plate. The feature is useful in identifying snakes.

Anerythristic - (anery) these lack all red pigmentation while retaining its black pigment. This may be linked to axanthism. In corns, Type A (I) anerythristics retain their yellow pigment, while Type B (II) do not or at least have a reduced amount of yellow pigmentation. Historically called black albino in corns (though NOT a true albino).

Anomaly - a deviation from the ordinary, normal, or expected.

Anuran - a frog or toad.

Antivenin - horse or sheep serum with cultured antibodies used to counteract venom in cases of snakebite from a venomous species.

Antivenom- same as antivenin.

Arboreal - lives in or amongst the trees or bushes. An animal that spends most of its time off the ground in the limbs of trees.

Arthropod - a member of a large taxonomic section of invertebrates, characterized by exoskeleton and jointed legs, typified by insects and spiders.

Aspirate - in herpetoculture, 1) using a needle to suck the juices out of an egg to help relieve Dystocia, and 2) what happens when a snake gets liquid into its epiglottis down to the lung.

Assist feed - to start a food item into a reptile’s mouth and then allow the animal to finish eating on its own.

Aquatic - living or growing in water.

Axanthic - these snakes lack yellow pigmentation but retain the other pigments. In corns, commonly called "muted."

Axillary - The area on the sides and belly, behind or below the front legs. The "armpit" area.

Bask - to lie in a warm area, as under a heat lamp or in the sun, in order to absorb heat.

Binomial - a scientific name comprised of two parts, genus and species. Ex. Crotalus adamanteus. Crotalus is the genus for Rattlesnakes and adamanteus is the species name for the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.

Biology - the study of life and all life forms.

Blizzard - a mostly white snake with red eyes resulting, usually, from the combination of one or more simple recessive mutations.  The actual mutations involved vary by species.

Blue - if your snake is "in the blue" or just "blue," it means it will shed soon. The snake’s coloration dulls, and the eyes become cloudy/bluish milky coloration. see Opaque.

Boid - snakes belonging to the family Boidae. It includes all of the boas and pythons.

Brumate - to place an animal in Brumation.

Brumation - the natural wintering process of snakes also known as "cooling". This involves lowering its temperature for usually 2 to 4 months to approximate conditions during the winter period. Brumation triggers the physical changes that stimulate egg production in females, sperm production in males and the breeding response necessary for successful captive propagation.

Burrow - to dig underground for shelter or for the purpose of concealment or hunting for food. The tunnel created by a burrowing animal.

Cannibal / Cannibalistic - an animal that feeds on others of its own kind.

Carapace - The shell covering the back (top) of a turtle/tortoise, crab, or other animal.

Carnivorous / Carnivore - Said of an animal which primarily eats other animals, or in the case of many reptiles, eats the whole animal. Meat eater.

Caudal - Referring to the tail.

Cillie - Ciliatus, as in Rhacodactylus.

C.I.T.E.S. - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna. Entered into force in 1975, CITES is an international agreement designed to control the international trade in protected species of plants and animals. Participation of individual countries is voluntary.

Class - a taxonomic category for a group of related animals or plants that share common characteristics. This category is between phylum and order.

Cloaca - A body opening that serves both for excretion and for the reproductive organs.

Clutch - a "litter" or group of eggs laid by a reptile or bird.

Co-dominant - a mutant gene that changes the phenotype from normal when at least one mutant gene is present. The phenotype of a heterozygous individual is NOT the same as that of a homozygous individual.

Colubrid - a snake belonging to the family Colubridae. most US snakes that are non-venomous, non-natracine (water snakes), and are not boas/pythons. The common snakes, including King Snakes, Rat Snakes, Garter Snakes, Indigo Snakes, etc. The vast majority of these snakes are harmless to humans.

Constrictor - A snake that kills its prey by grabbing the animal and throwing two or three coils around it. The force of constriction (squeezing) prevents the prey from breathing, and it usually dies within seconds. The snake can then relax its grip and swallow the animal head-first.

Cool - Brumate. To “cool” an animal is to place it in Brumation. (See also Burmation).

Copulate - 1) the physical act of breeding for transfer of genetic material (e.g., breeding), 2) "hooked up".

Costal Groove - a vertical groove in amphibians on the sides of the body between the front and back limbs. Usually there is more than one costal groove.

Costal Scute - the scales along the sides of the carapace of a turtle or tortoise.

Crawler - a young rodent that has developed some hair. Sometimes called a fuzzy, but "crawler" is also used by some to mean a rodent slightly larger or slightly smaller than a fuzzy.

Crepuscular - Active during the evening and early morning hours.

Crotalid - a venomous snake belonging to the sub: family Crotalinae. Pit vipers. These snakes have heat sensitive pits on the face and fangs in the front of the upper jaw that fold up against the roof of the mouth. Includes Cottonmouths, Copperheads, Rattlesnakes, Cantils, South American pit vipers and Asian pit vipers.

Cryptic coloration - A pattern of colors that makes an animal hard to see. It may be a pattern that is similar to the background on which the animal lives, or one that seems to break up the animal's outline (also called "disruptive coloration").

Dimorphism - having two forms. Sexual dimorphism means that the females and males are different in appearance. Dimorphism is a special case of polymorphism, in which a species has more than one form.

Diurnal - Active during the day.  

Dominant - The trait will present itself even when the animal carries recessive genes for something else.

Double clutch - to induce a snake to lay eggs twice in one season.

Dorsal - the "top" side of the snake.

Double heterozygous (Double het) - being heterozygous for two independent mutant genes, such as albino and anerythristic.

Drop - to lay eggs, or in the case of a live bearing snake, to give birth.

Dry bite - a bite by a venomous snake in which no venom is delivered.

Duvernoy’s Gland - a modified saliva gland that produces a type of venom in Colubrid snakes, varying in toxicity from very mild to extremely toxic depending on species.

Dysecdysis - 1) a shedding problem or 2) a bad shed, especially if it is chronic. some or all of the old skin did not shed off as it should have.

Dystocia - the term for when a snake is egg-bound. The snake is unable to lay the eggs; the eggs can then block the digestive process or rot and cause a septicemia.

Ecdysis -shedding.

Ectoparasite - parasites that affect an animal externally by attaching themselves to the skin and sucking blood from the host animal. Mites and ticks are ectoparasites in reptiles. (See Endoparasite)

Ectotherm - an animal whose body temperature varies with the temperature of its surroundings (also called cold-blooded). Ectotherms regulate their body temperature by utilizing warm and cool zones in their environment.

Eft - the terrestrial life stage of a newt.

Egg bound - a snake suffering from Dystocia. A life threatening condition that prevents a female reptile from laying her eggs. It is usually caused by one or more (usually infertile) eggs adhering to the lining of the oviduct.

Elapid - venomous snakes with fixed front fangs and usually strongly neuro toxic venom. Includes Cobras, Mambas, Kraits, Coral Snakes, Sea Snakes, Taipans, Tiger Snakes, etc. From the family Elapidae.

Endangered Species - an animal that is considered in danger of extinction. An animal that appears on Appendix I of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Endangered Species Act of 1973 - A Federal Law that was passed for the purpose of protecting endangered and threatened species of flora and fauna. Enacted in December of 1973 and amended several times, most recently in 1988.

Endemic species - a species native to a particular region.

Endoparasite - parasites of the circulatory, digestive or pulmonary systems of reptiles. These include a variety of round worms, tapeworms, flukes, and protozoans. (See Ectoparasite)

Endotherm - An animal that maintains its body temperature at a relatively constant level by physiological means regardless of the temperature of the environment (also called warm-blooded).

Envenomation - the act of delivering venom to a victim by a snake or other venomous animal. The condition of having been envenomated.

Erythrin - the red pigmentation.

Estivation - the lowering of metabolic rate during hot periods or droughts.

Exoskeleton - external hard supporting structure such as scales, nails, feathers.

Extinct - a species in which all living examples have died. A species that no longer exists in life.

Extirpate / Extirpated - a species that has been eliminated or no longer exists in a particular area where it was formerly found.

F1 - first generation offspring.

F2 - second generation offspring.

Family - a taxonomic category of related species between order and genus.

Filial - generations of progeny in a genetic breeding project. Unrelated animals in the parental (P) generation are mated to produce the first filial (F1) generation. Two F1 individuals are mated (brother x sister) to produce the second filial (F2) generation.

Force feed - to feed an animal by force. To use some mechanical means to deliver food to an animal’s stomach.

Fossorial - burrowing. An animal that spends most of it’s time in underground burrows or burrowing.

Furniture - limbs, hiding boxes, rocks, etc. are cage furniture.

Fuzzy - a young rodent (7-12 days old) that has just developed some hair, but has not opened its eyes.

Genotype - The actual genetic make-up of an animal regardless of the phenotype.

Genus (pl. Genera) - a taxonomic category for a group of related animals between family and species. A sub-division of a family.

Gestation - The period of time between mating and the birth of the young.

Ghost - a mostly gray and white (with minor amounts or yellow or even red sometimes being present) snake with dark eyes resulting, usually, from the combination of one or more simple recessive mutations.  The actual mutations involved vary by species.

Glottis - the moveable stiff “tube” in the bottom of a snake’s mouth, which facilitates breathing while the snake is swallowing a prey animal.

Gravid - 1) pregnant, 2) with egg, 3) expecting, 4) knocked up. Etc… Said of females when they are carrying fertilized eggs. A term used to describe a female reptile which is carrying eggs or young (see gestation).

Habitat - The kind of place where a plant or animal naturally lives.

Hatchling - 1) a snake who just hatched, 2) a snake up to a couple months old, or 3) neonate.

Hemi-penis (pl. Hemipenes) - male copulatory organs.  The organ used by a male snake or lizard to deposit sperm inside the female’s body during mating. There are two hemipenes located in the base of the tail, but only one is used at a time.

Herbivorous / Herbivore - Said of an animal which eats only plants.

Herp/s - A slang term for any and all species of reptile and amphibian. It is much preferable to “herptile”. Also used as a verb meaning to look for reptiles, amphibians or crocodilians. To go herping. Short for herpetofauna.

Herper - A person who keeps, breeds, or collects reptiles or amphibians.

Herpetoculturist - 1. A person who breeds reptiles or amphibians. Generally the emphasis is on developing new strains or morphs of a particular species or on refining and developing breeding techniques, but anyone who makes a serious effort to breed reptiles and amphibians can be referred to as a Herpetoculturist.   2. A person who keeps or has a serious interest in reptiles or amphibians and is an active participant in the community of herpetoculture through involvement and participation in clubs and organizations, shows, lectures and symposia, or online in message boards and chat rooms.

Herpetologist - A person who studies reptiles and amphibians. There is no specific degree in Herpetology in the United States, so a Herpetologist will usually have a degree in Biology and Zoology, with graduate work in the discipline of Herpetology.

Het - see Heterozygous.

Heterozygous (Het) - The animal caries a recessive gene for a given trait, but otherwise is normal.

Hide (Hiding box) - reptile cage furnishing which provides a secure place for the animal to hide. A cardboard box, upside-down flowerpot, etc. are used for hides.

Homozygous - having two identical alleles for a particular gene in a gene pair (both genes are the same).

Hook - A tool used for handling snakes, particularly venomous ones. A handle of varying length and composition with a hook at one end and a herper at the other.

Hopper - a smaller version of an adult rodent; "teenager" rodent (12-19 days old) ; usually used to describe a rodent between a fuzzy and a weanling. Named because of their tendency to hop or jump.

Hot - venomous when used in reference to a type of snake or lizard.

Humidity box - a hide box that has a moist substance, such as damp sphagnum moss, in it to aid in shedding.

Husbandry - the different aspects and techniques of caring for an animal.

Hybrid - to herpers, the progeny from a breeding between two species of the same genus or between two genera. When used by non-herpers, it may also refer to the result of a man-made breeding between two subspecies or two inbred lines, as in hybrid corn.

Hyper - (Prefix) - More than normal. ( Referring to retile genetics).

Hypo - (Prefix) - Less than normal. ( Referring to retile genetics).

Hypomelanistic - (usually abbreviated as "hypo") snakes that retain some of their black pigmentation while losing the rest the majority of it.  Some wild populations are naturally lighter than other populations, but the term "hypo" is reserved for Mendelian mutations.

IBD - see Inclusion Body Disease.

Impaction - a condition where a looped intestine or a plug of some foreign matter makes the animal unable to pass waste material through the intestine to the outside. Often a fatal condition. It is especially common in smaller animals that are kept on a substrate of sand or other small particulate matter, and caused by accidental ingestion of the substrate.

Incubate - to maintain eggs in conditions favorable to development and hatching.

Incubator - a device used to incubate eggs.

Inclusion Body Disease - A normally fatal and highly contagious disease seen primarily in Boas and Pythons in which symptoms include neurological impairment, “star-gazing”, respiratory disease, and regurgitation. The disease gets it’s name because of Cytoplasmic Inclusion Bodies seen in certain tissues of infected animals upon microscopic examination. Inclusion Body Disease is thought to be caused by a retrovirus. Also known as IBD.

Infralabial - the scales on the lower lip.

Inter-grade - 1. An animal that comes from an area where the ranges of two subspecies meet and that shows some characteristics of both subspecies.    2. A baby from a man-made mating of snakes belonging to two different subspecies. It would be desirable to use a term such as “subspecies cross” for the man-made mating to separate the two definitions.

Insectivorous - Said of an animal which mostly eats insects.

Jacobson’s Organ - the olfactory organ in the roof of a snake or lizard’s mouth in which it inserts the tips of its tongue after sampling its surroundings. This organ is responsible for the senses of taste and smell.

Juvenile - a young animal, not yet sexually mature.

Keeled scale - A ridge down the center of a scale. Very sharp keeling may make an animal appear quite rough. In general, an animal with keeled scales will appear less shiny and lustrous than one with un-keeled scales, as the keeling causes the reflected light to scatter.  

Labial - pertaining to the lips. Labial scales: the lip scales of reptiles.

Labial pits - Heat -sensitive pits present on the lips of Boas and Pythons.

Lacy Act - a Federal Law enacted in 1900 and named for John Lacey for the purpose of controlling the transport of protected or injurious species across state lines or internationally in violation of those states or country’s laws. It has been amended several times, most recently in 1981.

Lateral - the "sides" of the snake. Referring to the sides of the body.

Leachie - leachianus, as in Rhacodactylus.

Litter - the group of babies to which a live bearing snake gives birth.

Live Birth - in reptiles, this is when the eggs hatch while still inside the female, and the young soon emerge alive. The young do not obtain nutrients from their mother while in the reproductive tract, as is the case with most mammals. A condition known as oviviparous.

Locale - refers to the specific area from which a captive animal lineage originated. Some Locales are very specific, such as Highway 277 Gray Banded King Snakes are specific to the area surrounding a particular road in Texas.

Loreal - the scale between the nasal scales and the pre-ocular scales.

Loreal Pit - Heat-sensitive pit located within the loreal scale on Pit Vipers.

Luecistic - A recessive trait that produces a white animal with black eyes.

Luecistic Leopard Gecko - A special case, this is actually a pattern mutation producing no black spots, not a true luecistic trait.

MBD - see Metabolic Bone Disease.

Median ridge - the ridge down the center of a keeled scale.

Melanin - the black pigmentation.

Melanistic - having an excess of melanin or black pigment.

Mendelian - inheritable genes such as simple recessive, simple dominant, etc., but it does not include color or pattern phases that are not inheritable as a simple mechanism.

Mental Groove - the groove in the skin along the midline of the lower jaw. It allows great expansion of the lower jaw during feeding.

Metabolic Bone Disease - A disease commonly seen in lizards and turtles that affects bone development resulting in malformed bones. It is normally caused by dietary or vitamin deficiencies.

Metamorphosis - to change from one form to another, as in a tadpole changing into a frog.

Monotypic - a species with no subspecies.

Monovalent - having titer against only one kind, as in Monovalent Antivenin. Only effective against the venom of one particular genus or species.

Morph - usually refers to the different colorations and patterns produced by one mutation or a combination of mutations in a particular species. Snow Corns are one morph of Corn Snakes, and Motley Sunglow is another.

Motley - An abnormal pattern mutation in Corn Snakes that is highly variable. They can range from a stretched looking pattern, to blotches that are joined in a ladder like pattern with small circles down the center, to some perfectly striped specimens. They also lack the normal black, checkered ventral pattern.

Mouth rot - see Stomatitis.

Musk - a foul smelling substance produced by scent glands in the base of the tail of some reptiles. Discharging musk out the vent may discourage an attacker.

Neonate - A recently hatched/birthed animal.

Neoteny / Neotenic - the characteristic of some salamanders of retaining larval features such as gills into adulthood.

Nocturnal - active at night.

Nuchal scute - the scutes, or scales, on a tortoise or turtle’s carapace located above the neck.

Ocular - referring to the eye. Ocular scales are those contacting the eye. They are divided into 4 groups, preoculars, supraoculars, suboculars, and postoculars.

Omnivorous / Omnivore - an animal that eats both plant and animal matter.

Opaque - it's when the snakes in the blue, and its eyes are extremely clouded over.

Ophidian Paramyxovirus - A highly contagious virus related to Hantavirus that infects snakes in captive collections and is usually fatal. It is most commonly seen in Viperid snakes, but has been reported in others recently. Also known as OPMV.

Ophidiophage - "snake eating." The process of one snake eating another snake.

Ophidiophobia - fear of snakes.

Opisthoglyphic - rear-fanged snakes.

Opportunistic - to take advantage of the situation or opportunity at hand. An opportunistic feeder is an animal that eats whatever is available.

Over-wintering - the act of imitating brumation in captivity.

Oviparous - Reproduces by laying eggs.

Ovoviviparous - Reproduces by eggs, which remain in the mother's body until they are ready to hatch. When the young emerge, they are born live, with only a membrane to break out of.

Parotid Gland - each of the two large wart-like glands at the rear of a toad’s head. They secrete a milky, toxic substance.

Parthenogenesis - reproduction by a female animal that has never been in contact with a male of her own species. Asexual reproduction in female animals of a sexually reproducing species. Sometimes occurs in certain reptile species.

Phenotype - The actual appearance of an animal regardless of the genotype. The visible characteristics of an animal.

Pilstrom Tongs - a brand name. See Tongs.

Pinkie - a rodent that hasn't developed hair yet.

Pinkie Press - a trade name for a device designed to facilitate force-feeding reptiles.

Pip - The act, by a baby reptile or bird, of cutting it’s way out of the egg using a special egg tooth or caruncle.

Pit - A heat sensitive organ in Crotalid snakes and some Boids. In pit vipers (crotalids) it is located between the nostril and the eye. In boids there are several located on the lips.

Plastron - The shell covering the underside (bottom) of a turtle or other animal.

Poisonous - Snakes are NOT poisonous, though some may be venomous. Poisonous refers to a substance which when ingested causes illness or is epidermally caustic.  Snakes are venomous since they inject venom.

Poikilotherm - an obsolete term replaced by ectotherm.

Polyvalent - having titer against more than one type, as in Polyvalent Antivenin. Antivenin that is effective against the venoms of more than one species.

Pop - to sex a snake by everting the hemipenes. Usually done on neonate snakes.

Postocular - the scales just behind the eye.

Prehensile - grasping. A prehensile tail describes a tail that is capable of grasping.

Preocular - the scales just forward of the eye.

Prey - an animal that is captured and eaten for food. To capture and eat an animal.

Probe - the tool used for sexing snakes, or the act of using a probe to sex a snake. It is usually made of surgical steel, is tapered and has a “ball:end” in most cases. There are various sizes for use on smaller or larger snakes. The probe is inserted through the vent to check for the presence of a hemipenis.

Protected species - a species that is protected by law and cannot be legally captured or molested without a specific permit to do so.

Proteroglyphic - snakes that have fixed front fangs. Elapid snakes are Proteroglyphic.

Range: the geographic area in which a particular species is known to occur naturally.

Red - a newborn rodent that is still bright right following birth.

Recessive - A recessive trait only manifests itself if both parents carry the trait as a recessive or dominate gene.

Regurgitate - vomit.  In reptiles, to bring partially digested food items back up from the stomach and out of the mouth. Usually caused by some irritation of the stomach by parasites or bacterial or viral infections, or by temperatures that are too high or too low.

Reptilia - the taxonomic class of vertebrates that includes snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises and crocodilians. The reptiles.

Restraining tube - a plastic tube normally used for the purpose of restraining venomous snakes so that medical procedures, etc. can be safely performed.

Retained eye-cap - a condition in which a snake fails to shed the transparent skin structure that covers each eye along with the rest of his skin.
Road cruising: driving slowly on a road, usually at night, looking for reptiles on the road.

Rostral - referring to the tip of the snout. The scale on the end of a snake’s snout is the rostral scute.

Rough - a term used to describe reptiles that have keeled scales.

Scale clip - to mark a reptile for later identification by clipping scales in a particular pattern.

Scute - an enlarged scale, especially in turtles, tortoises and crocodilians. The large scales on the head and venter of snakes are also sometimes referred to as a scute.

Sequester - store up, within the body, chemicals that are ingested.  This may be the source of some yellow coloration in pseudo-axanthic snakes.

Serum - Antivenin made from horse or sheep serum.

Serum Sickness - an allergic reaction in humans to animal serum, often seen in cases of snakebite where antivenin is administered.

Shed - a skin that has been shed by a reptile. See also, Ecdysis.

Smooth - a term used to describe a reptile that has smooth scales.

Smooth scale - a scale that has no median ridge. Smooth scales give a reptile a glossy, shiny appearance and a smooth feel.

Snow - a mostly white snake with varying amount of yellow pigmentation and red eyes resulting, usually, from the combination of one or more simple recessive mutations.  The actual mutations involved varies by species.

Solenoglyph - a solenoglyphic snake. A venomous snake that has moveable fangs, which fold up against the roof of the mouth when not in use. Viperid and Crotalid snakes are solenoglyphic.

Species - the taxonomic category that subdivides a genus into groups of a particular kind of animal.

Speculum / Specula - a device, usually a wire loop, designed to keep a reptile’s mouth open for the purpose of performing oral medical procedures or force-feeding.

Spur - a small appendage located on either side of the vent in Boas and Pythons. Vestigial hind-limbs. It is more pronounced in males.

Stomatitis - an infection of the lining of a reptile’s mouth. It is usually caused by bacteria and is characterized by a cheesy discharge from the lesions and unwillingness to feed. Severe cases can cause death.

Stuck shed - see Disecdysis.

Stripes - A recessive genetic trait in some species of reptiles. Some may have stripes that are not genetic.

Sub-adult - a juvenile animal that is nearing sexual maturity.

Subcaudal - referring to the underside of the tail.

Subocular - scales just below the eye and above the Supralabial scales, in between the lip and the eye, as in Trans Pecos Rat Snake. Not present in all snakes.

Subspecies - a taxonomic division of a species into geographic races.

Substrate - material used to cover the bottom of a cage.

Supralabial - the scales on the upper lip.

Supraocular - the scales just above the eye.

Sympatric - species that occur within the same geographic range without interbreeding.

Substrate - 1) the material in which a snake is bedded, or housed and 2) the floor covering material. Newspaper, bark chips, Aspen chips, Cypress mulch and sand are commonly used substrates.

Taxonomy - the systematic naming of animals and plants. The scientific name of a plant or an animal.

Terrestrial - living on the ground. An animal that spends most of it’s time on the ground.

Thermal gradient - a gradual change in temperature from one part of a cage to another.

Thermo-regulate - moving from a warm area to a cooler one or vice versa in order to regulate body temperature.

Threatened - a species that is not yet endangered, but is in danger of becoming endangered. A species that appears on Appendix II of the Endangered Species Act or on a State List of protected species as having a Threatened status.

Tongs - A tool for handling venomous snakes. A handle of varying length with a lever at one end that is connected by a cable to jaws at the other end. The jaws are for gripping the snake’s body while keeping the animal a safe distance from the handler.

Triad -  a group of three rings, usually red, white (or yellow) and black, encircling (or nearly so) the body of a snake and repeating for the length of the body, usually Coral Snakes, milk snakes and mountain kingsnakes.

Tri-color - refers to the pattern of rings comprised of three colors, usually red, white (or yellow) and black found on Coral Snakes, milk snakes and mountain kingsnakes. These snakes are sometimes referred to as “Tri:colors”.

Trio - refers to a breeding group, usually 1 male and 2 females.

Trinomial - a scientific name comprised of three parts, the genus, species and subspecies. Ex. Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis.

Triple heterozygous (Triple het) - being heterozygous for three independent mutant genes.

Troglodyte - cave dwelling.

Tube - 1. a tube used for tube feeding. 2. a tube used to restrain a snake. 3. to place a snake inside a restraining tube. 4. to feed a snake by use of a tube.

Tube feed - to force feed an animal or deliver medication by use of a tube and syringe.

Venom - a toxic compound secreted by some animals for the purpose of defense or obtaining prey.

Venom Gland - a modified saliva gland, located at the back of the upper jaw in venomous snakes, which produces the venom. The venom moves from the gland to the fangs via the venom duct. Venom glands are present in Crotalid, Viperid and Elapid snakes.

Venemoid - a naturally venomous snake that has been surgically rendered non:venomous.

Venomous - 1) an animal that can inject venom and is classified as dangerous, 2) a plant or animal that injects or otherwise produces venom, and 3) Snakes are venomous, not poi