Purpose To carry out a descriptive investigation into the most relevant morphological features of the chinchilla eye and bony orbit, as well as to perform selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests with the aim of establishing normal anatomic and physiologic references for this species. Method A total of 57 healthy, chinchillas were used to test most of the parameters in this investigation. Besides morphologic observations of the globe and adnexa, selected ocular tests and parameters were investigated, including blink frequency, palpebral fissure length (PFL), Schirmer tear test (STT), esthesiometry, intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), B-mode echobiometric measurements of the globe and culture of the normal conjunctival bacterial microbiota. Morphologic observations were made using six formalin-fixed globes and four macerated skulls. Results and Discussion Normal parameters found for selected ocular diagnostic tests were: blink frequency: 2.6 ± 0.84 blinks per 10 min; STT: 1.07 ± 0.54 mm; esthesiometry: 1.24 ± 0.46 cm; IOP: 17.71 ± 4.17 mmHg; CCT: 0.34 ± 0.03 mm; PFL: 1.44 ± 0.11 cm; anterior chamber depth: 2.01 ± 0.2 mm; axial lens thickness: 5.49 ± 0.43 mm; vitreous chamber depth (internal): 3.69 ± 0.52 mm; axial globe length: 1.14 ± 0.07 cm. The most frequent bacteria isolated from the conjunctiva were Streptococcus sp. (27.45%), Staphylococcus aureus (23.52%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (19.60%). No statistically significant differences between left or right eyes or genders were found for any of the results. Reference data and morphologic observations obtained in this investigation will help veterinary ophthalmologists to recognize unique morphological features and more accurately diagnose ocular diseases in the chinchilla, an animal already being used as a biological model for ophthalmic studies.

Capybara's normal ocular features include: dorsal and ventral puncta, vestigial third eyelid, true cilia only at the upper eyelid margins. The bulbar conjunctiva is noticeably densely pigmented with a brown to bronze color. The capybara's pupil is oval in shape and vertical in position No tapetum lucidum is present in this species and the retinal blood vessels are almost absent. Results for selected ocular diagnostic tests investigated were: Intraocular pressure: 18.4 +/- 3.8 mmHg; Schirmer tear test: 14.9 +/- 5.1 mm/min; Central corneal thickness: 0.46 +/- 0.03 mm; Axial globe length: 22.20 +/- 1.71 mm. No statistically significant differences between ages or genders were found for any of the results. Corynebacterium sp., Micrococcus sp., Bacillus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. were isolated from healthy conjunctiva, suggesting they are normal constituents of the conjunctival flora of the capybara eye. The corneal epithelium of the capybara possesses a thin and discrete Bowman's layer. Results and parameters obtained in this investigation exposed unique anatomic features of the capybara eye and will help veterinary ophthalmologists to more accurately diagnose discrete or unusual pathological changes of the capybara eye. Furthermore, corneal thickness and axial length of the capybara are similar to that of human beings, revealing that the world's largest living rodent might be an excellent biological model for ophthalmic studies.

Normal parameters for blink frequency, palpebral fissure length and tear production measurement are presented. The palpebral fissure of black-tufted marmoset is very small and tear production is one of the lowest reported for all animal species. A novel and practical alternative for tear production measurement using standardized endodontic absorbent paper points is presented and is indicated for animals with small eyes.

Dentre os 253 atendimentos realizados em aves selvagens entre agosto de 2003 a agosto de 2006 no Ambulatório de Animais Selvagens do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal do Paraná, 45 casos (17,8%) referiram-se a consultas à espécie Serinus canarius (canário-belga). Dentre as aves atendidas e suas respectivas ordens obteve-se uma maior ocorrência da ordem Psittaciforme. As enfermidades mais freqüentemente visualizadas foram as afecções traumáticas com 56 casos (22,13%). Destas, 17 animais (30,91%) possuíam algum tipo de fratura, sendo a fratura rádio-ulnar a mais comum, com 17,65% de ocorrência. As outras moléstias mais relatadas foram a presença de ectoparasitos (12,50%) e endoparasitos (10,68%), doenças respiratórias (10,42%), procedimentos preventivos (7,55%), afecções dermatológicas (6,51%), neoplasias (4,95%), afecções oftálmicas (4,43%), afecções gastrintestinais (3,91%), caquexia (3,39%), afecções neurológicas (2,86%), automutilação (2,86%), obesidade (2,34%), agressão por outros animais (1,56 %), doenças nutricionais (1,30%), retenção de ovo (1,04%), bouba aviária (0,78%) e gota úrica (0,52%). Tendo em vista a alta prevalência de traumatismos e presença de ecto e endo parasitas que poderiam ser evitados se estivesse ocorrendo um manejo adequado com a ave, sugere-se a necessidade que o Médico Veterinário assuma um papel mais efetivo na Medicina Veterinária Preventiva buscando informar e debater questões referentes ao modo correto de alimentação, criação e manejo das aves, assim como também o esclarecimento acerca das questões referentes às zoonoses quando da consulta veterinária.

ABSTRACT. OPENING FORMS OF PALM NUTS SYAGR US ROMANZOFFIANA (CHAM ISSO) GLASSMAN MADE BY SClURUS INGRAMI THOMAS (RODENTIA, Sc ruRIDAE). ln this work was identifyed the diferents opening forms of the paIOl nuts Syagrus romanzoffiana by brazilian squirrel Sciurus ingrami in four diferents points of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazi\. Was caracterized tive basic forms of opening, in acording with the number of incisions and opening aspects. The !arm with lower nuOlber of incisions (two) was also the greather frequently in the four points saOlpled (66 ,25%; N = 5194) well as registred lhe lower opening time (7,2 ± 1,7 min) in relationship with other !amls (9,2 ± 2,3 min) . To explicate the diferences in the frequences of forms discovered, is proposed "apprenliceship's hypothesis" which the young squirrels of lhe population, along the opening nuts apprenticeship, to passing of the forms with larger number of incisions to tarms wilh lower number af incisions, ending in the form of more frequence, which is maintained by adult squirrels. KEY WORDS. Rodentia, Sciuridae, seed predation, squirrel behavior, paIOl nuts o serelepe ou caxinguelê Sciurus ingrami Thomas, 1901