| Records |
| Author |
Shoshani, J.; Kupsky, W.J.; Marchant, G.H. |
| Title |
Elephant brain. Part I: gross morphology, functions, comparative anatomy, and evolution |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Brain Research Bulletin |
Abbreviated Journal |
Brain Res Bull |
| Volume |
70 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
124-157 |
| Keywords |
Animals; Brain/*anatomy & histology/blood supply/*physiology; Cats; Chinchilla; Elephants/*anatomy & histology/*physiology; Equidae; *Evolution; Female; Guinea Pigs; Haplorhini; Humans; Hyraxes; Male; Pan troglodytes; Sheep; Wolves |
| Abstract |
We report morphological data on brains of four African, Loxodonta africana, and three Asian elephants, Elephas maximus, and compare findings to literature. Brains exhibit a gyral pattern more complex and with more numerous gyri than in primates, humans included, and in carnivores, but less complex than in cetaceans. Cerebral frontal, parietal, temporal, limbic, and insular lobes are well developed, whereas the occipital lobe is relatively small. The insula is not as opercularized as in man. The temporal lobe is disproportionately large and expands laterally. Humans and elephants have three parallel temporal gyri: superior, middle, and inferior. Hippocampal sizes in elephants and humans are comparable, but proportionally smaller in elephant. A possible carotid rete was observed at the base of the brain. Brain size appears to be related to body size, ecology, sociality, and longevity. Elephant adult brain averages 4783 g, the largest among living and extinct terrestrial mammals; elephant neonate brain averages 50% of its adult brain weight (25% in humans). Cerebellar weight averages 18.6% of brain (1.8 times larger than in humans). During evolution, encephalization quotient has increased by 10-fold (0.2 for extinct Moeritherium, approximately 2.0 for extant elephants). We present 20 figures of the elephant brain, 16 of which contain new material. Similarities between human and elephant brains could be due to convergent evolution; both display mosaic characters and are highly derived mammals. Humans and elephants use and make tools and show a range of complex learning skills and behaviors. In elephants, the large amount of cerebral cortex, especially in the temporal lobe, and the well-developed olfactory system, structures associated with complex learning and behavioral functions in humans, may provide the substrate for such complex skills and behavior. |
| Address |
Department of Biology, University of Asmara, P.O. Box 1220, Asmara, Eritrea (Horn of Africa). hezy@bio.uoa.edu.er |
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
English |
Summary Language |
|
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
Series Volume  |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
0361-9230 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
| Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
| Notes |
PMID:16782503 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2623 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Gasser, R.B.; Hung, G.-C.; Chilton, N.B.; Beveridge, I. |
| Title |
Advances in developing molecular-diagnostic tools for strongyloid nematodes of equids: fundamental and applied implications |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2004 |
Publication |
Molecular and Cellular Probes |
Abbreviated Journal |
Mol Cell Probes |
| Volume |
18 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
3-16 |
| Keywords |
Animals; DNA, Helminth; DNA, Ribosomal/analysis; Equidae/*parasitology; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/*methods; Parasitic Diseases, Animal/diagnosis; Strongylida/classification/genetics; Strongylida Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology/veterinary |
| Abstract |
Infections of equids with parasitic nematodes of the order Strongylida (subfamilies Strongylinae and Cyathostominae) are of major veterinary importance. In last decades, the widespread use of drugs against these parasites has led to problems of resistance within the Cyathostominae, and to an increase in their prevalence and intensity of infection. Novel control strategies, based on improved knowledge of parasite biology and epidemiology, have thus become important. However, there are substantial limitations in the understanding of fundamental biological and systematic aspects of these parasites, which have been due largely to limitations in their specific identification and diagnosis using traditional, morphological approaches. Recently, there has been progress in the development of DNA-based approaches for the specific identification of strongyloids of equids for systematic studies and disease diagnosis. The present article briefly reviews information on the classification, biology, pathogenesis, epidemiology of equine strongyloids and the diagnosis of infections, highlights knowledge gaps in these areas, describes recent advances in the use of molecular techniques for the genetic characterisation, specific identification and differentiation of strongyloids of equids as a basis for fundamental investigations of the systematics, population biology and ecology. |
| Address |
Department of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia. robinbg@unimelb.edu.au |
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
English |
Summary Language |
|
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
0890-8508 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
| Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
| Notes |
PMID:15036364 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2636 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Kiltie, R.A.; Fan, J.; Laine, A.F. |
| Title |
A wavelet-based metric for visual texture discrimination with applications in evolutionary ecology |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1995 |
Publication |
Mathematical Biosciences |
Abbreviated Journal |
Math Biosci |
| Volume |
126 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
21-39 |
| Keywords |
Animals; Carnivora; *Ecology; Equidae; *Evolution; Humans; Mathematics; Models, Biological; Moths; *Pattern Recognition, Visual; Pigmentation |
| Abstract |
Much work on natural and sexual selection is concerned with the conspicuousness of visual patterns (textures) on animal and plant surfaces. Previous attempts by evolutionary biologists to quantify apparency of such textures have involved subjective estimates of conspicuousness or statistical analyses based on transect samples. We present a method based on wavelet analysis that avoids subjectivity and that uses more of the information in image textures than transects do. Like the human visual system for texture discrimination, and probably like that of other vertebrates, this method is based on localized analysis of orientation and frequency components of the patterns composing visual textures. As examples of the metric's utility, we present analyses of crypsis for tigers, zebras, and peppered moth morphs. |
| Address |
Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville |
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
English |
Summary Language |
|
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
0025-5564 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
| Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
| Notes |
PMID:7696817 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2660 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Dierenfeld, E.S. |
| Title |
Vitamin E in exotics: effects, evaluation and ecology |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1994 |
Publication |
The Journal of Nutrition |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Nutr |
| Volume |
124 |
Issue |
12 Suppl |
Pages |
2579s-2581s |
| Keywords |
Animal Feed/*analysis; Animals; Animals, Zoo/blood/*metabolism; Antelopes/blood/metabolism; Birds/blood/metabolism; Deer/blood/metabolism; Elephants/blood/metabolism; Equidae/blood/metabolism; Perissodactyla/blood/metabolism; Vitamin E/*administration & dosage/analysis/blood; Vitamin E Deficiency/pathology/physiopathology/veterinary |
| Abstract |
The pathophysiology and lesions associated with vitamin E deficiency are similar between domestic and exotic species, and circulating plasma concentrations are also similar between comparable groups. However, many ecological variables must be considered for the most relevant comparisons. Tissue values of vitamin E, apart from plasma, are unknown for most exotics. Dietary vitamin E requirements of exotic species and domestics appear to differ; based on natural foodstuff analyses and clinical observations, between 50 and 200 mg vitamin E/kg DM are necessary to prevent vitamin E deficiency, 5- to 10-fold higher than current livestock recommendations. |
| Address |
Department of Nutrition, Wildlife Health Center, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY 10460 |
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
English |
Summary Language |
|
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
0022-3166 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
| Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
| Notes |
PMID:7996243 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2661 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Smith, D.G.; Pearson, R.A. |
| Title |
A review of the factors affecting the survival of donkeys in semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Tropical Animal Health and Production |
Abbreviated Journal |
Trop Anim Health Prod |
| Volume |
37 Suppl 1 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
1-19 |
| Keywords |
Africa South of the Sahara; Animal Nutrition Physiology; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cattle; Equidae/growth & development/*physiology; Socioeconomic Factors |
| Abstract |
The large fluctuations seen in cattle populations during periods of drought in sub-Saharan Africa are not evident in the donkey population. Donkeys appear to have a survival advantage over cattle that is increasingly recognized by smallholder farmers in their selection of working animals. The donkey's survival advantages arise from both socioeconomic and biological factors. Socioeconomic factors include the maintenance of a low sustainable population of donkeys owing to their single-purpose role and their low social status. Also, because donkeys are not usually used as a meat animal and can provide a regular income as a working animal, they are not slaughtered in response to drought, as are cattle. Donkeys have a range of physiological and behavioural adaptations that individually provide small survival advantages over cattle but collectively may make a large difference to whether or not they survive drought. Donkeys have lower maintenance costs as a result of their size and spend less energy while foraging for food; lower energy costs result in a lower dry matter intake (DMI) requirement. In donkeys, low-quality diets are digested almost as efficiently as in ruminants and, because of a highly selective feeding strategy, the quality of diet obtained by donkeys in a given pasture is higher than that obtained by cattle. Lower energy costs of walking, longer foraging times per day and ability to tolerate thirst may allow donkeys to access more remote, under-utilized sources of forage that are inaccessible to cattle on rangeland. As donkeys become a more popular choice of working animal for farmers, specific management practices need to be devised that allow donkeys to fully maximize their natural survival advantages. |
| Address |
Department of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX, Scotland, UK. d.g.smith@abdn.ac.uk |
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
English |
Summary Language |
|
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
0049-4747 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
| Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
| Notes |
PMID:16335068 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4231 |
| Permanent link to this record |
