Nontraditional Species

Birds, reptiles, terrestrial amphibians, and invertebrates comprise a minority of species used in research, yet they appear with some regularity in animal facilities. The more commonly seen bird species include pigeons, chickens, ducks, finches, and parrots. Pigeons are typically used in psychology research and behavioral experiments involving cognition and learning. Chickens, quail, and other poultry are studied extensively in agricultural production-based research, vaccine development, and developmental toxicology studies. Chickens and ducks are also important species for infectious disease research. Passerines (songbirds) such as zebra finches are used as models for neurobiology of vocal learning, effects of substance abuse on learning and memory, ecotoxicology, cognition, and behavioral research (Bateson and Feenders 2010). Parrots, budgerigars, cockatiels, and related psittacine species are used primarily in cognition and behavior studies, as well as pharmacology and avian disease research. Caring for these highly intelligent and behaviorally complex animals can be quite interesting and challenging (Kalmar et al. 2010).

Among reptile species, turtles and lizards are most frequently kept in research facilities. Turtles have been extensively used in physiology research and teaching, including investigations of hypoxia and freeze tolerance (Packard and Packard 2004; Overgaard et al. 2007). Lizards are subjects of behavioral, endocrine, physiology, reproductive, toxicology, and tail regeneration studies (Hutchins et al. 2014). The effects of toxicants and environmental pollutants have been studied in alligators, as well as the antimicrobial activity of alligator blood extracts (Merchant et al. 2006). Snakes are commonly kept in herpetological teaching collections, used for venom research, and are studied in behavioral and physiological research (O’Rourke 2014). Snake venom has also been used to develop drugs for the treatment of hypertension, thrombosis, and cancer (Koh and Kini 2012).

Leopard frogs are the most common semiaquatic amphibian species used in physiology research and teaching. Along with toads and salamanders, they are an animal model for environmental toxicology and endocrine disruptor studies. Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and the roundworm (Caenorhabditis elegans) have traditionally dominated the invertebrate research field, contributing to knowledge gained in many areas of genetic and developmental research.

In addition to the aforementioned use as animal models, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates are most commonly studied by biologists to better understand the natural history, ecology, behavior, and conservation of the animals themselves. While this work is frequently conducted in the field, it sometimes necessitates bringing wild-caught animals into the laboratory for holding and further research.