Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4522786 | Applied Animal Behaviour Science | 2013 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
Xenopus are a hardy, long-lived, aquatic amphibian species which readily adapt to a captive environment. This characteristic makes Xenopus ideal for the laboratory, where they are used extensively in basic and biomedical research. Though husbandry practices for Xenopus have not been standardized, there is burgeoning evidence that environmental enrichment can limit fighting, cannibalism, and can optimize the general health, fecundity, and the welfare of captive Xenopus. Here we review the habitat, sensory biology, and the relevant features of normal Xenopus behavior and with those unique features in mind, propose strategies for effective environmental enrichment.
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Authors
Helen Chum, Stephen Felt, Joseph Garner, Sherril Green,