Isolation and characterization of 12 microsatellite loci for population studies of Sulawesi tarsiers (Tarsius spp.)

This study reports the development and characterization of the first 12 microsatellite markers for tarsiers. Nine loci were isolated from Dian's tarsier, Tarsius dianae and three from the Philippine tarsier, Tarsius syrichta. The 12 markers were used to screen 40 individuals of Dian's tarsier and 40 individuals of the Lariang tarsier, Tarsius lariang for allelic diversity. This suite of highly polymorphic microsatellites provides the first chance to genetically study parentage patterns in tarsiers.     

Habitat use,foraging behavior,and activity patterns in reproducing western tarsiers,Tarsius bancanus,in captivity: A managment synthesis

As the only obligatorily predatory primates, tarsiers are notoriously difficult to keep successfully in captivity. Here we report empirical and experimental results from a 5-year study of behavior and life history in captive Tarsius bancanus. Four reproducing adult tarsiers used space nonrandomly, preferring small-diameter vertical or near-vertical locomotor substrates at midlevel enclosure heights (1.2–2.1 m) for sleeping, scanning, and prey capture. The tarsiers were completely nocturnal, and spent 78% of the scotophase scanning, 13% sleeping, and 9% in prey capture and other activities. Only live crickets were eaten; prey capture rates were highest in the first hour after waking, but overall activity rates were highest later in the scotophase. Adult males and nonpregnant or lactating females ingested approximately 44.7–49.7 kJ/day. Growing and lactating individuals ingested approximately 84.4–94.1 KJ/day. An energetically conservative, sit-and-wait predatory strategy was employed, in which 88% of capture attempts were successful. Most successful prey captures involved reaching for, or leaping from, 90° or 60° supports in a horizontal or downward direction onto prey less than 0.6 m away. Virtually all prey captures were in arboreal locations, despite much higher densities of crickets on enclosure floors. Prey capture rates during the first hour of the nocturnal activity period were positively correlated with arboreal cricket densities. At constant arboreal cricket densities, capture rates were negatively correlated with ambient light intensity, with optimum levels for prey capture ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 Lux. In terms of social behavior, these T. bancanus were nongregarious. Females enforced interindividual spacing by chasing and displacing males. Chase/displacement rates increased significantly during late pregnancy and lactation, apparently in an attempt to keep males from harassing infants. There was no direct male parental care. Infants were precocial at birth, and grew at a rate of 0.35–0.5 g/day, until nutritional weaning at approximately 60 days of age. The implications of specialized predatory morphology and behavior for management are discussed. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

家庭饲养金头闭壳龟15年的体会

金头闭壳龟Ｃｕｏｒａａｕｒｏｃａｐｉｔａｔａ是我国特产的一种珍稀龟类 ,目前仅知分布于安徽省的少数地区。该龟体色艳丽 ,性格温和 ,很受龟类爱好者青睐。由于分布面窄 ,数量稀少 ,长期的盗捕和走私使其濒于灭绝。笔者自 1 987年起对其进行家庭饲养至今。现将自己饲养中的体会加以总结 ,以供爱好者参考。1　关于性成熟的判定1 988年购得雌龟 1只重约 4 0 0ｇ。根据雌龟体重和背甲量度确定年龄在 1 0岁左右。该龟 1 992年体重约 60 0 ｇ时首次产卵 2枚 ,可惜都被咬碎。 1 993～ 2 0 0 1年该雌龟每年都正常产卵 3～ 7枚 (年均 4 6枚 ) ,…     

Cage restraints for rhinoceroses

Captive breeding programs for the rhinoceros can be enhanced by studying their reproductive physiology. To do so requires repetitive manipulations under physically controlled circumstances. To facilitate these procedures, zoos throughout the world have constructed restraint devices, or chutes. Chute designs are usually determined by the space in which they are to be situated and the budget available for their construction. In this study, eight chute designs at seven institutions were compared for efficiency in controlling rhinoceroses during ultrasonography, semen collection, and blood sampling. Procedures were conducted on 16 rhinoceroses of four species: the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum), the black (Diceros bicornis), the greater one-horned Asian (Rhinoceros unicornis), and the Sumatran (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). Chutes were evaluated for dimensions, fabricating materials, procedures to be attempted, and structural features such as shoulder restraints. Permanent, indoor, side-adjustable, pass-through chutes were determined to be the most efficient and convenient type because they saved time and reduced stress on the animals. Zoo Biol 17:343–359, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Space and substrate use in captive western tarsiers,Tarsius bancanus

Tarsiers are considered “vertical clingers and leapers” but there are few empirical data available concerning actual substrate- or space- use patterns in any of the three species. In this paper we examine these patterns in four wild-caught, captive Tarsius bancanusmaintained in large enclosures designed to promote natural behavior. We find that this species uses space in a distinctly nonrandom manner, exhibiting a preference for midlevel heights and upright, small-diameter substrates. The observed space-utilization pattern was best explained by strong preferences for specific heights and not by the distribution of prey items, preferred substrate types,or substrate angles. Unlike wild T. bancanus,which reportedly forage consistently on the ground, these tarsiers did not forage on the floor of the enclosures despite the abundance of food there.     

Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) milk composition during the first 280 days of lactation

Milk samples (n = 10) taken during the first 280 days of lactation from one Asian elephant were examined for nutrient composition including total solids, protein, fat, ash, α-tocopherol, and retinol levels. Total solids averaged 19.7 ± 2.7% SD (range 15.0–23.3). Percent protein remained fairly stable throughout this portion of lactation and averaged 3.4 ± 0.3% (range 3.0–.4.0). Ash content averaged 0.54 ± 0.03%. Milk fat and fat soluble vitamin levels varied considerably with a suggestion of a cyclic pattern. Fat content of milk averaged 7.6 ± 2.6% (range 3.9–.12.1); α-tocopheral levels averaged 0.33 ± 0.12 μg/ml; and retinol levels averaged 0.46 ± 0.1 μg/ml. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.