Zoo Med NatureSun® - Manual (Page 3)

Reptiles | 3 Reptiles | 3
bones and is often fatal
if not corrected by UVB
exposure. With this
knowledge came the
introduction of the
fi rst commercially
available UVB
lamp for reptiles
in 1993, which
allowed people
to successfully
maintain and
breed a variety of
reptile species in
captivity. Although
preventing the onset
of disease is good
motivation to provide
adequate lighting for
captive reptiles, many
keepers are going to
the next level in an effort
to accurately recreate truly
naturalistic habitats, even with
respect to lighting.
Humans see the world differently
than reptiles and amphibians. Many reptiles and
amphibians have the remarkable ability to see
things illuminated by UV wavelengths. Also, some
lizards and amphibians have a third eye on the top
of their head known as the parietal eye. This eye
cannot see the full complement of colors that the
other two eyes see, but it can sense light and is
associated with photoperiod regulation (circadian
rhythms), reproductive behavior, basking behavior
and thermoregulation. The parietal eye may also
be sensitive to UV wavelengths (Jenison, 1980).
These differences in how reptiles and humans see
have caused persistent confusion on what defi nes
full-spectrum lighting and UV lighting.
Full-Spectrum and UV Lighting
The term “light” is typically associated
with vision, and because people are the ones
doing the research, we have identifi ed the
visual portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
according to the colors that we are able to see.
Full-spectrum lighting for reptiles should have
emissions in the human visible wavelengths (red
Panther chameleons have been the
subject of much UVB research over
the years. This hatchling was bred at
Zoo Med and receives UVB from an
energy-effi cient, compact fl uorescent
UVB lamp.
Many think of the word “photo”
as referring to a picture, but
the original meaning of the
word is “light.” “Photograph”
literally means “drawing with
light.” The study of the effects
of light, or photons, on living
things is called photobiology.
Herpetology is defi ned as
the study of reptiles and
amphibians. By combining
these two terms, I propose a
new word to give identity to the
growing fi eld of the study of
reptile and amphibian lighting:
photoherpetology.
Photoherpetology
Courtesy Kirby Spencer / Zoo Med Laboratories