One of the exciting mammalian evolution discoveries from recent times is the realization that elephants, hyrax, sirenians, aardvarks, tenrecs, elephant-shrews, and golden moles all share a common ancestor. These groups are now classified together as Afrotherians, being derived from a common origin in Africa. With the wave of new elephant exhibits being built around the world, are there any exhibits that bring together any of these groups in an explicit Afrotherian themed exhibit complex? I have never heard of one, but it might be a cool exhibit thematic concept. What zoos have the best collection of Afrotherians in the world? In the U.S. the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Cincinnati Zoo, and Columbus Zoo all have elephants and manatees, but I'm not aware that they have any specific Afrotherian connection to their display. Does the Berlin Zoo display most represents of Afrotheira? Are there any golden moles in captivity anywhere in the world?
Good point, David. Whenever I've seen a hyrax exhibit they ALWAYS mention the elephant connection, yet they never think to put them together for an exhibit (meaning next to each other - not in the same enclosure... hyraxes and elephants being natural enemies and would attack each other on sight unless you raised them together as pups). Let alone aardvarks, which would also make sense in a ecosystem themed exhibit.
The Berlin Zoo doesn't have much of an Afrotherian display, but the Berlin Tierpark could certainly be considered to have one - the Dickhauterhaus (no idea what this translates as, except the last part is presumably 'house', as this was a large building, with indoor pens linked to paddocks for larger species) holds African and Asian Elephants, Antillean Manatees, Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax, and Short-eared Elephant Shrews, among a range of other non-Afrotherian species. This is certainly the most diverse Afrotherian collection I have ever seen in one 'exhibit' (building).
The elephant house in Zurich, opened around 1972, did include an enclosure designed for hyrax, but when I visited at that time it held chevrotain. Incidentally they held Indian elephants, and I think they still do so. Alan
Certainly less common, particularly with mammals, but here are some recent examples of taxonomic exhibits. Big Cat Falls - Philadelphia Philadelphia Zoo - McNeil Avian Center McNeil Avian Center - Philadelphia Philadelphia Zoo - McNeil Avian Center Museum of Living Art (MOLA) - Fort Worth Museum of Living Art @ Fort Worth Zoo Living Amphibians Inverterbrates and Reptiles (LAIR) - Los Angeles LAIR - Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens National Amphibian Conservation Center National Amphibian Conservation Center | Habitats | Animals | Animals However, taxonomic mammal exhibits seem especially sparse.
Prague former elephant house used to have an exhibit specifically designed for hyraxes and so both species lived just a few meters apart. The originally planned manatee pool in this house was cancelled due to shortage of funds in 1970es. Later, ca 10 years ago, Prague tried to keep hyraxes in the dry moat around the elephant paddock, but they were too keen on escaping so they had to be moved elsewhere. Dvur Kralove has an elephant house with hyraxes.
Dickhauterhaus worthly translated means Dick = Thick, hauter = skinned and haus = house also Thickskinned house which ussualy is used for elephants, rhinos and hippos.
Thanks for that vogelcommando, that makes sense given the animals in the house. Chlidonias' translation as Pachyderm House means essentially the same thing, 'Pachyderm' is Greek for thick-skinned, and is used in English to refer to Elephants, Hippos and Rhinos, once considered to be closely related.
it is exactly the same thing: Dickhäuter is the German word for pachyderm. The individual translation of the parts of the word are "thick" (dick) and "skinned" (Haut = skin), as vogelcommando said.
Aside from aviaries and reptile houses it doesn't seem like you see too many taxonomic exhibits. The focus seems to be geographic exhibits.
Does anybody know if there are or ever have been golden moles in captivity anywhere? These are the only Afrotherians that I have never seen or heard of in zoos.
