standardization of records keeping in indian zoos - Central Zoo ...

Picture 30: Photo Id in Sand Lizard
7.8 PIT Tags
PIT tags may be used to mark frogs, salamanders or snakes except some small
species. The tag is injected into the animal either subcutaneously or intraperitoneally.
7.9 NOTCHING
A method of marking and coding freshwater and terrestrial hard shelled
tortoises and turtles was developed by Fred R Cagle(Copeia, 1939: 170), in which
scissors and files were used for notching. But now a power grinder or a small hand
held grinder may be used for notching which is more convenient. Once established
such notches are permanent identification marks which do not interfere with the
normal activity of the turtles.
The rather complicated coding scheme devised by Cagle (1939) has been simplified
for use with the families Testudinidae and Emydidae at Zurich zoo. The same method
may be followed for notching turtles and tortoises at Indian zoos for the sake of its
simplicity.
Method
Only the last four marginals (1,2,3,4) on each side of the carapace are used.
Numerical values are assigned to individual marginals in the following manner
no.1=1, no.2=2, no.3=4 and no.4=7
Thus a notch in marginal no.2 denotes specimen no. 2 and a combination of
notches, for e.g. in marginals 3 and 4, would denote specimen no. 11.
With the right front side designating units, the left front tens, the right hind side
hundreds and the left hind side thousands, this coding system allows for the marking
of up to 9999 individuals.
Similar process may be used for the more aquatic forms (Ernst et.al 1974) like
the Kinosternon, Chelydra and Macroclemmys, where the bridge of the carapace and
plastron, should not be used because of the weakening of the shell at that point. With
G. elephantopus, Mac Farlane et. al (1974) point out that specimen of less than 15-20
cm curved carapace length (approximately to one and a half years old) cannot be
notched because the carapace is too fragile; in this case they are temporarily marked
with paint or by scratching the scutes.
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