Chapter 1, The Reptilian Spectacle - UWSpace - University of ...

To allow for extended high-magnification observations, it was necessary for the animals to
remain still. To restrict a subject animal’s mobility, it was placed within a custom-built acrylic box
transparent to both visible and NIR wavelengths (see Figure 2-3 for transmission spectrum) and with
internal dimensions of 3.5 cm x 5 cm x 95 cm (H x D x W).
Figure 2-3. Spectral transmission of the acrylic material used to fashion the holding box. It
exhibits high spectral transmission throughout the visible and NIR ranges.
In practice, this box was large enough that the animal was unrestrained, but was nevertheless
constrained to a small space. After an initial period of agitation upon placement in the box, coachwhip
snakes were found to settle down and remain mostly stationary, making them an ideal model animal
for this type of observation (quite unlike corn snakes that absolutely refuse to remain still under the
same conditions).
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The box was mounted on a tripod, allowing for easy placement of one of the animal’s eyes to
within the focal range of the slit-lamp, and allowing for quick minor adjustments throughout the
experiment to compensate for slight shifts in the animal’s position. Figure 2-4 (next page) illustrates
the experimental setup.
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Wavelength (nm)
38