Table 7D.

Example welfare/behavioral criteria for assessment of stress: some key signs: reptiles.

Behavioral sign	Cause/Problem
Interaction with transparent boundaries (ITB): frequent interaction/attempts e.g., scratch, “pace,” “climb,” rub against cage-glass	1, 12
Hyperactivity: moderate/greater locomotor activity/escape attempts e.g., “pacing” perimeter, digging, climbing	1, 2, 5, 12
Hypoactivity/sedentary behavior	1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Avoidance behavior: e.g., fleeing from co-occupants, head-hiding	1, 2, 3
Hissing	1, 2, 3
Inflation of the body	1, 2, 3
Repeated inflation and deflation of the body	1, 2, 3
Repeated inflation and deflation of the throat	1, 2, 3
Open-mouth breathing (rapid or slow)	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Voluntary regurgitation of food	1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Rapid pigmentation change	1, 2, 3, 5
Biting/cannibalism	1, 9, 12

Derived from reviewed literature (1, 8, 44, 57, 79, 81, 115, 116).

Cause/problem keys:

¹Overly restrictive/incorrect environment/inability to hide/retreat. ²Co-occupant aggression/harassment. ³Fear/defense. ⁴Pain/trauma/disease. ⁵Environmental stressor e.g., hyperthermia. ⁶Environmental stressor e.g., hypothermia. ⁷Environmental stressor e.g., hypoxia. ⁸Hunger. ⁹Environmental stressor e.g., incorrect humidity. ¹⁰Excessive handling. ¹¹Learned helplessness” (includes apparently normal behaviors in highly adverse conditions). ¹²Under-stimulation.