Frog Glossary N
Necrosis: The pathological death of living tissue of
plants or animals.
Necropsy: As a human is given an autopsy upon death,
an animal is given a necropsy. It is the act of analyzing, examining the dead tissues,
organs, and other viscera in order to determine the cause of death.
Nematodes: A phyllum of unsegmented worms. Most
are soil dwellers and plant attackers, some parasitic; although several species
are aquatic and can harm small herps, mammals and even humans. The Rhabdias
(strongyloid lungworms) nematodes may cause pneumonia and failure to thrive in
anurans. They comprise the largest phyllum of invertebrates (thats pretty big!)
and in sheer numbers exceed all other metazoa.
Neomycin: Neomycin is an antibacterial drug that is poorly absorbed when
taken by mouth. Neomycin is used to treat infections of the eyes, ears, or skin.
For aquatic animals, it is either given as an additive to the fish tank, used as a bath
for amphibians, or injected via syringe. It can be found in larger pet shops in capsule
form among fish medications.
Nocturnal: An animal that is active at night.
Nuptial excresences: The roughened thumb, wrist, and forearm grasping pads
of reproductively active male anurans. They are sometimes called simply,
"Nuptial pads".
