ZooChat Challenge North America 2018

Just C. pyrrhus, it’s been elevated.

Are you sure about this? Where were they? There was no mention of them when I visited last year.

 

So from the picture that I grabbed from the sign it looks like they were in the Madagascar Expedition building. There were two other, I believe smaller, tortoise species listed on the sign with the two pictured, but I didn't take a picture of the whole sign, because for the life of me I had no idea where they were. It was like the second large exhibit from the end of the building and they were with, I think, ring-tailed lemurs and another lemur species. I believe it was the one shaped like a U where you can step into the middle part and the exhibit extends on both sides for a short distance.

Are they possibly labeled wrong? I am terrible with reptile species and would have no idea if that were the case as I have been checking the Reptile Database for every species just to make sure it isn't a subspecies of one I already had. Also, Omaha had its share with names changed on the sign or shortened and it made some species conflict until you looked at the scientific name.

I'm trying to add the picture of the sign to this post, but apparently its more round about than I thought, so stay tuned.

Edit: I got the picture.

IMAG0303 by NSU42 posted 8 Jan 2018 at 4:52 PM

 

That exhibit only had radiated tortoises when I went, I think. Any photo you can upload- tortoise itself, sign, exhibit, would be appreciated. I should be able to ID the tortoise from a photo as they’re rather distinct in shell shape, and if not me, I know some other members will be able to.

I’m not trying to make you lose a point here, it just would be a big development if Omaha has this species and if they’re on exhibit. They’re incredibly rare and not exhibited in America, even though at least four other facilities have them.

 

Absolutely no problem, when I started googling them I saw very quickly why you may be suspicious. I uploaded the photo of the sign and put it into my previous post. As I said before I'm terrible with reptile species. There have been multiple animals I've seen, but have had no label on there exhibit and I have no idea what they are because of it and couldn't find them from a simple google search. Some have been distinctive that if I could've just found a picture I'd known what they were.

From what I remember from this exhibit, I thought there were definitely two different species in there and from the signs the second one did not look like the other two species on it or the radiated tortoises, which I also saw. The shell was much lighter.

 

I looked through my own photos and found a photo of this sign. It is not the U-shaped enclosure, but rather one of the smaller reptile-focused enclosures (which held Standing’s day gecko, spiny-tailed iguana, plated lizard, and flat-tailed tortoise). There was an unsigned species there, but it was a chameleon. I imagine the species you saw was the flat-tailed tortoise. There are not radiated tortoises in this exhibit, but they were in the u-shaped exhibit.

 

No, they were definitely in with the radiated tortoise and in the U-shaped exhibit the more and more I've thought about it. The sign I have a picture of was posted on the left side of the exhibit when you look at it. I have a picture of the sign your referring to as well and that was the exhibit just after the one they were in. Also, were too big to be a flat-tailed tortoises.

Also, started thinking, Omaha does that thing in the Expedition Madagascar area where they will list the species of animal in the exhibit and then on a separate sign, or just below it, list other species that are endangered from Madagascar. It is possible I missed the Radiated Tortoise sign and took a picture of the second one that listed other endangered species as well. Is it possible it was just a Radiated Tortoise with a light colored shell that maybe looked similar? Another reason I'm thinking this is the case is most of the species signs have the scientific names on them in Expedition Madagascar, while this one didn't. Also, I think have seen just a radiated tortoise sign before.

Either way, for now we don't have to count it (I'm really not that competitive over this, just thought it would be fun to keep track of the ones that I actually saw. One species is also probably not going to be the difference between me winning or losing either) and if I go back later this spring (probably will, its only a 3 hour drive from where I live and I want to see the small aquarium and wildlife park nearby too) I can look again and take a picture of the actual tortoises I saw and post those and we can decide.

 

I think your thinking here is correct. If you’re good with not counting it, that’s what I’d prefer for the time being. But I will happily eat my words if they actually are on exhibit!

 

So... Taeniopygia guttata is a reptile?

 

No. Perhaps if you read the rest of the introductory post (and a few of the subsequent posts) you would realize that that was just an example.

 

Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo & Adventure Park - January 20 2018
1. Central Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps
2. European Glass Lizard Psudopus apodus
3. Common Blue-Tongued Skink Tiliqua scincoides
4. Ball Python Python regius
5. Common Boa Boa constrictor
6. Aldabra Giant Tortoise Aldabrachelys gigantea
7. American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis
8. Corn Snake Pantherophis guttatus

Only 8 this visit. The Leopard Tortoise was off-exhibit today.

 

Smithsonian National Zoo 1/14/18:

1. Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis
2. Tomistoma Tomistoma schlegelii
3. Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis
4. Ridge-tailed monitor Varanus acanthurus
5. Blue-tongued skink Tiliqua scincoides
6. Chameleon forest dragon Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus
7. Philippine crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis
8. Gila monster Heloderma suspectum
9. African plated lizard Gerrhosaurus validus
10. Pancake tortoise Malacochersus tornieri
11. Emerald tree monitor Varanus prasinus
12. Prehensile-tailed skink Corucia zebrata
13. Mangrove snake Boiga dendrophila
14. Central American bushmaster Lachesis stenophrys
15. Caiman lizard Dracaena guianensis
16. Plumed basilisk Basiliscus plumifrons
17. Green anaconda Eunectes murinus
18. West African gaboon viper Bitis gabonica
19. Timor python Python timorensis
20. Madagascar day gecko Phelsuma madagascariensis
21. Chinese crocodile lizard Shinisaurus crocodilurus
22. Taylor’s cantil Agkistrodon taylori
23. Giant leaf-tailed gecko Uroplatus fimbriatus
24. Northern pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus
25. False water cobra Hydronastes gigas
26. Gharial Gavialis gangeticus
27. Painted terrapin Batagur borneoensis
28. Cuban crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer
29. Northern copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
30. Vietnamese leaf-nosed snake Gonyosoma boulengeri
31. Golden coin turtle Cuora trifasciata
32. McCord’s box turtle Cuora mccordi
33. Common king snake Lampropeltis getula
34. Fiji banded iguana Brachylophus bulabula
35. Tokay gecko Gekko gecko
36. European glass lizard Pseudopus apodus
37. Eastern indigo snake Drymarchon couperi
38. Yellow-spotted amazon river turtle Podocnemis unifilis
39. Green tree python Morelia viridis
40. Red-tailed boa Boa constrictor
41. New Caledonian giant gecko Rhacodactylus leachianus
42. Eastern diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus
43. Eyelash palm pitviper Bothriechis schlegelii
44. Corn snake Pantherophis guttatua
45. Black-headed python Aspidites melanocephalus
46. King cobra Ophiophagus hannah
47. Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake Crotalus polystictus
48. Sinaloan milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum sinaloae
49. Banded rock rattlesnake Crotalus lepidus klauberi
50. Common musk turtle Sternotherus odoratus
51. Alligator snapping turtle Macrochelys temminckii
52. Spotted pond turtle Geoclemys hamiltonii
53. Eastern snake-necked turtle Chelodina longicollis
54. Australian big-headed turtle Emydura victoriae
55. Aldabra giant tortoise Aldabrachelys gigantea
56. Spider tortoise Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides
57. Tentacled snake Erpeton tentaculum
58. Mata mata turtle Chelus fimbriata
59. Fly River turtle Carettochelys insculpulata

Subtotals:
5 crocodilians
17 lizards
23 snakes
14 Chelonians

I think it would be cool if everyone posted their subtotals for each “group” of reptiles, in addition to their overall list.

 

In that case, my subtotals so far are:
1 Crocodilian
3 Lizards
3 Snakes
1 Chelonian

 

Well, I'm finally here. Time to start my list!

Toronto Zoo: February 18.

1. Aldabra giant tortoise: Aldabrachelys gigantea
2. Radiated tortoise: Astrochelys radiata
3. Spider tortoise: Pyxis arachnoides
4. Royal python (or ball python, for convenience: Python regius
5. Gaboon viper: Bitis gabonica
6. Ornate monitor: Varanus ornatus
7. Veiled chameleon: Chamaeleo calyptratus
8. West African dwarf crocodile: Osteolaemus tetraspis
9. Chinese big-headed turtle: Platysternon megacephalum

Totals:
1 crocodilian
2 lizards
2 snakes
4 chelonians

-TheWalrus

 

Per the taxonomy we’re using, this species is not considered valid. It would then be considered either V. niloticus or V. stellatus, but Reptile Database doesn’t consider the latter valid either! So, for the purposes of this challenge, this animal (and any other listed as V. ornatus or V. stellatus at any zoo) is actually V. niloticus.

 

Okay, thanks for the heads-up. I was under the impression that there were other species. Sorry about that.

 

Alright then, on to the totals thus far!

1. NSU42- 107 species
2. jayjds2- 59 species
3. d1am0ndback- 60 species
4. pachydermpro- 43 species
5. TheWalrus- 9 species
6. birdsandbats- 8 species

Wow, only 6 people participating? I was under the impression that more would come out and participate due to some collections' massive collection. Anyway, the list will be updated in one month.

-TheWalrus

 

Dallas World Aquarium:
44. Fly River Turtle- Carettochelys insculpta
45. Orinoco Crocodile- Crocodylus intermedius
46. Red Tailed Boa- Boa constrictor
47. Emerald Tree Boa- Corallus caninus
48. Caiman Lizard- Dracaena guianensis
49. Red Footed Tortoise- Chelonoidis carbonaria
50. Green Anaconda- Eunectes murinus
51. Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman- Paleosuchus palpebrosus
52. Yellow Spotted Amazon Turtle- Podocnemis unifilis
53. Mata mata- Chelus fimbriata
54. Arrau Turtle- Podocnemis expansa
55. Blue Spiny Lizard- Sceloporus cyanogenys
56. Fer-de-Lance- Bothrops asper
57. Beaded Lizard- Heloderma horridum
58. Middle American Rattlesnake- Crotalus simus
59. Morelet's Crocodile- Crocodylus moreletii
60. Yellow Bellied Slider- Trachemys scripta

 

Diamondback, why do you show cottonmouth photo instead of western rattler.

 

This species is not split in the taxonomy we are using, so it and all other beaded lizards are H. horridum.

This species will not count unless identified to species level.

Please leave tallying the totals (of this thread and the global challenge) to the people running them. We often keep in contact with people who are participating, just behind on posting. For example, there are four innacurracies in your total, but the only one evident is that 60 is considered greater than 59 by most modern standards. Thylo updates his challenge and I will update mine, including all the information that may be missing from the threads themselves, bi-annually.

Why is yours a tortoise rather than an eagle?

 

Snake Farm:
61. Helmeted Turtle- Pelomedusa subrufa
62. West African Mud Turtle- Pelusios castaneus
63. Yellow Throated Bold Eyed Snake- Thrasops flavigularis
64. Green Tree Monitor- Varanus prasimus
65. Green Cat Eyed Snake- Boiga cyanea
66. Dumeril's Boa- Acrantophis dumerili
67. Black Mamba- Dendroaspis polylepis
68. Western Massasauga- Sistrurus tergeminus
69. Cape Coral Cobra- Aspidelaps lubricus
70. Mexican Dusky Rattlesnake- Crotalus triseriatus
71. Zebra Cobra- Naja nigricollis nigricincta
72. Inland Taipan- Oxyuranus microlepidotus
73. Mexican Black Tailed Rattlesnake- Crotalus molossus nigrescens
74. Scrub Python- Simalia amnethistina
75. Savannah Monitor- Varanus exanthematicus
76. Solomon Island Spiny Monitor- Varanus spinulosus
77. Northern Green Ratsnake- Senticolis triaspis intermedia
78. Mexican Cantil (Since Taylor's is a split)- Agkistrodon bilineatus
79. Speckled Rattlesnake- Crotalus mitchelli
80. Southern Pacific Rattlesnake- Crotalus oreganus helleri
81. Central African Bush Viper- Atheris broadleyi
82. Tiger Rattlesnake- Crotalus tigris
83. Mount Roriama Rattlesnake- Crotalus durissus ruruima
84. Indian Cobra- Naja naja
85. Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake- Crotalus basiliscus
86. Baja Rattlesnake- Crotalus enyo
87. Russell's Viper- Daboia russelii
88. Sahara Sand Viper- Cerastus vipera
89. Uracoan Rattlesnake- Crotalus vergrandis
90. Smooth Scale Death Adder- Acanthophis laevis
91. Arizona Black Rattlesnake- Crotalus cerberus
92. Painted Saw Scaled Viper- Echis coloratus
93. Nosed-Horned Viper- Vipera ammodytes ammodytes
94. Baja Kingsnake- Lampropeltis californiae
95. Rufous Beaked Snake- Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus
96. Red Milksnake- Lampropeltis syspila
97. Chihuahua Mountain Kingsnake- Lampropeltis knoblochi
98. Central Plains Milksnake- Lampropeltis gentilis gentilis
99. Blanding's Tree Snake- Toxicordryas blandingii
100. Nile Crocodile- Crocodylus niloticus
101. African Rock Python- Python sebae
102. African House Snake- Boadedon fuliginosus
103. Baja Rosy Boa- Lichanura trivirgata saslowi
104. Black Headed Python- Aspidites melanocephalus
105. Japanese Ratsnake- Elaphe climacophora
106. Mandarin Ratsnake- Euprepiophis mandarinus
107. Guatemalan Milksnake- Lampropeltis abnorma
108. Arizona Mountain Kingsnake- Lampropeltis pyromelana pyromelana
109. Jungle Carpet Python- Morellia spilota cheynei
110. Kenyan Sand Boa- Eryx colubrinus
111. Nelson's Milksnake- Lampropeltis polyzona nelsoni
112. Anthill Python- Anteresia perthensis
113. Durango Kingsnake- Lampropeltis mexicana greeri
114. Royal Python- Python regius
115. Tricolor Hognose Snake- Xenodon pulcher
116. Chinese Bamboo Ratsnake- Oreocryptophis porphyraceus vaillanti
117. Western Foxsnake- Pantherophis ramspotti
118. Corn Snake- Pantherophis guttatus
119. Texas Tortoise- Gopherus berlandieri
120. Rainbow Boa- Epicrates cencheria
121. Red Blood Python- Python brongersmai
122. Ornate Flying Snake- Chrysopelea ornata
123. Yucatan Spiny-Tailed Iguana- Ctenosaura defensor
124. Soloman Islands Ground Boa- Candoia paulsoni
125. West African Bush Viper- Atheris chlorechis
126. Baron's Racer- Philodryas baroni
127. Diadem Ratsnake- Spalerosophis diadema
128. Red Tailed Green Ratsnake- Gonyosoma oxycephalum
129. Ornate Box Turtle- Terrapene ornata
130. Jamaican Boa- Chilabothrus subflavus
131. Pancake Tortoise- Malacochersus tomieri
132. Hog Island Boa- Boa imperator
133. Checkered Garter Snake- Thamnophis marcianus
134. Glossy Snakes- Arizona elegans arenicola
135. Great Plains Ratsnake- Pantherophis emoryi
136. Desert Kingsnake- Lampropeltis splendida
137. Western Kingsnake- Pantherophis obsoletus
138. Baird's Ratsnake- Pantherophis bairdi
139. Diamondback Watersnake- Nerodia rhombifer
140. Prarie Kingsnake- Lampropeltis calligaster
141. Trans-Pecos Ratsnake- Bogertophis subocularis
142. Timber Rattlesnake- Crotalus horridus
143. Mexican Milksnake- Lampropeltis annulata
144. Lyre Snake- Trimorphodon lambda
145. Eastern Black Tailed Rattlesnake- Crotalus ornatus
146. Texas Longnose Snake- Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus
147. Mexican Hognosed Snake- Heterodon kennerlyi
148. Western Diamondback- Crotalus Atrox
149. Texas Coral Snake- Micrurus tener
150. Mojave Rattlesnake- Crotalus scutulatus
151. Prarie Rattlesnake- Crotalus viridis viridis
152. Giant Day Gecko- Phelsuma grandis
153. Gargoyle Gecko- Rhacodactylus auriculatus
154. Siamese Crocodile- Crocodylus siamensis
155. Eastern Diamondback- Crotalus adamanteus
156. Middle American Gopher Snake- Pituophis lineaticollis
157. Arboreal Alligator Lizard- Abronia graminea
158. Mexican Pygmy Rattlesnake- Crotalus ravus ravus
159. Reticulated Python- Python reticulatus
160. Bearded Dragon- Pogona vitticeps
161. Giant Plated Lizard- Gerrhosaurus validus
162. Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake- Crotalus pyrrhus

I will make subcategory tallies later. You guys see why I like this place?