About this Document
The citations in this bibliography pertain to the health, care and housing of reptiles owned as pets, exhibited in zoos and aquariums, or used for research.
The Federal Animal Welfare Act defines “animal” as any live or dead dog, cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or any other warmblooded animal, which is being used, or is intended for use for research, teaching, testing, experimentation, or exhibition purposes, or as a pet. It thus excludes reptiles and amphibians from coverage. Some reptiles and amphibians are considered endangered species and are thus protected by CITES and the Endangered Species Act.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection controls the import and export of animals and animal products through US ports. Live turtles with a shell length less than 4 inches and viable turtlel eggs may not be imported for commercial purposes. However, the CDC
may issue a permit for importation if it is not for commercial purposes and does not exceed the permitted number of animals. Importers and exporters of all tortoises and terrapins as well as other reptiles and amphibians, must obtain clearance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. USDA
may also restriction the importation of some tortoises.
For this document, the compiler searched for citations from multiple sources published between the years 2002 to 2007. The sources of information include peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, theses, annual reports, dissertations, books, monographs, and reviews. Some URLs are provided for documents available as eDocuments. Readers are cautioned as to the dynamic nature of the internet and the fact that Web addresses and content are subject to change. All sites are current as of September 2008.
Information on how to request materials that are included in the collection of the National Agricultural Library (NAL) may be found on the the Request Library Materials. Please read carefully as there are certain restrictions on media and document types. All patrons are encouraged to explore local library resources first before contacting the National Agricultural Library.
Web resources on the care and welfare of reptiles in research, exhibition, as well as those kept as pets, are provided on the AWIC Web site.
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to acknowledge Jean Larson and Kristina Adams for their participation in the final editing and Sandra Ball for the Web publishing of this document. Their support is greatly appreciated.
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