Apparatus for transporting laboratory animals

An apparatus for transporting laboratory animals, the apparatus comprising:

• a container defining a cavity for housing at least one laboratory animal, the container having a rim that defines an open top of the container;
• a cover piece that is adapted to snap onto the rim of the container for connecting the cover piece to the container for closing the open top of the container, the cover piece including structure for securing the cover piece on the container to prevent removal of the cover piece from the container by the at least one laboratory animal, the cover piece further including a passage through which the at least one laboratory animal passes during insertion into and extraction from the cavity;
• and
• a closure piece that is adapted to be supported by the cover piece, the closure piece including a portion that is rotatable relative to the cover piece between a first position in which the portion of the closure piece closes the passage in the cover piece to retain the at least one laboratory animal within the cavity and a second position in which the passage in the cover piece is open to permit the insertion and extraction of the at least one laboratory animal through the passage.