ZooChat Challenge Europe 2019

Another year, another challenge! The past few days, @jayjds2, @KevinVar and I were discussing 2019’s European and American challenges, and all of us decided that while fun, doing a taxonomical group every year might mean we’ll soon be running out of groups to base challenges around. For this reason, we’ve decided to mix it up a little!

This year’s theme will be “Island Endemics.” We’ve been toying with the idea of doing geographical instead of taxonomical challenges for a while now, but most geographic entities could raise discussions about how vagrants would factor in, or about where specifically the borders of a certain region are. By focusing on endemics we factor out most vagrants, and by focusing on islands the borders of each location will hopefully be as clear as they need to be. Because this theme is of course very broad, we hope to reach out to as many people as possible: we’ll be listing all birds, mammals and reptiles that are endemic to islands.

To further clarify the theme: any mammal, bird, or reptile that only lives on islands, and is thus not present on the “mainland” of its continent (so not on the Afro-Eurasian landmass, not on the American landmass, not in Australia, and not on Antarctica), counts towards this challenge. A few examples:
1.The Ring-tailed lemur occurs only on Madagascar, thus is endemic to an island, and counts for this challenge.
2.The Javan myna occurs naturally only on Java, Bali, and surrounding islands, but has been introduced to Southern Malaysia. However, its native range is still limited to islands, so it counts for this challenge.
3.The Island thrush has a very wide range, but does not occur on the mainland anywhere, so it counts for this challenge.
4.The Trumpet Manucode has a mostly island-restricted range as well, but does occur on the mainland of Australia in one location, so does not count for this challenge.

To prevent discussions about taxonomies and certain lists accepting certain splits while others don’t, we will be using IUCN for mammals, IOC for birds and the Reptile Database list for reptiles; we won’t be listing amphibians as those will be covered by @ThylacineAlive in the worldwide challenge, and while we certainly encourage people to look out for fish and invertebrates as well, we won’t be keeping track of those as taxonomy, identification and public information about their ranges is often still quite limited.

We’ll be splitting up our lists this time around: one list for mammals, one for birds and one for reptiles. This means that you don’t have to participate in all three categories if you don’t want to, and that there is place for potentially 4 different winners; one in each of the categories, and one overall.

This challenge of course also has rules, with credits to Shorts:
1. You have to actually see the animal, even if just for a second. You don't score if you visit a collection but don't see the animal (harsh, but fair);
2. Proof via photographs is not required, your word is your bond;
3. You have to see the animal via normal public access (i.e. not including zookeeper for the day or photography days behind the scenes) during normal public opening hours (i.e. no scoring because you know the keeper and can get access before/after hours). Basically the species has to be seen as Joe Public would;
4. Only collections located in what is geographically Europe will count in this challenge (including Iceland, the UK, Ireland, the Mediterranean islands, but excluding Georgia, Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkey to avoid conflicts about what is and isn't 'Europe.')
5. Report/update your progress on this thread as you go along;
6. The winner will be deemed to be the person(s) who's seen the most at 31st December 2019;
7. @KevinVar and my decision on any questions is final, but we're open to discussion and debate on any specific points.

This challenge is solely for fun, sadly I won't be able to offer the winner an actual prize. Most of all, we hope everyone has a great time!

 

Chester Zoo- 01/01/2019

1) Sulawesi Crested Macaque (Macaca negra)
2) Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairi)
3) Greater Hedgehog Tenrec (Setifer setosus)
4) Rodrigues Fruit Bat (Pteropus rodricensis)
5) Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons)
6) Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi)
7) Dusky Pademelon (Thylogale brunii)
8) Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
9) Chestnut-backed Thrush (Geokichla dohertyi)
10) Salvadori's Pheasant (Lophura inornata)
11) Bronze-tailed Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron chalcurum)
12) Javan Green Magpie (Cissa thalassina)
13) Lowland Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis)
14) White-belted Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata subcincta)
15) Parson's Chameleon (Calumma parsonii)
14) Sumatran Laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor)
15) Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)
16) Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
17) Antiguan Anole (Anolis leachii)
18) Mindanao Bleeding Heart Dove (Gallicolumba crinigera)
19) Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
20) Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica)
21) Java Sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora)
22) Madagascar Red Fody (Foudia madagascariensis)
23) Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria)
24) Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii)
25) Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove (Gallicolumba luzonica)
26) Cinnamon Ground Dove (Gallicolumba rufigula)
27) Socorro Dove (Zenaida graysoni)
28) Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)
29) Jamaican Anole (Anolis grahami)
30) Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri)
31) Malagasy Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena)
32) Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
33) Moloch Gibbon (Hylobates moloch)
34) Sumatran Orang-utan (Pongo abelii)
35) Bornean Orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus)
36) Timor Sparrow (Lonchura fuscata)
37) Salvadori's Monitor (Lophura inornata)
38) Boelen's Python (Morelia boeleni)
39) Luzon Lowland Scops Owl (Otus megalotis)
40) White-naped Pheasant-pigeon (Otidiphaps aruensis)
41) Ploughshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora)
42) Madagascar Spiny-tailed Iguana (Oplurus cuvieri)
43) Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
44) Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta)
45) Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa)

 

Impressive! I hadn't realized quite how long the lists would be. Of course Chester has an advantage here, with its large Malagasy and Indonesian collection!

Could you split up your list into 3 (mammals, birds, reptiles) though?

 

Of course Also gives me the opportunity for the correct total, seeing as I had two 14 and 15's

Chester Zoo- 01/01/2019

Mammals
1) Sulawesi Crested Macaque (Macaca negra)
2) Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairi)
3) Greater Hedgehog Tenrec (Setifer setosus)
4) Rodrigues Fruit Bat (Pteropus rodricensis)
5) Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons)
6) Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi)
7) Dusky Pademelon (Thylogale brunii)
8) Lowland Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis)
9) White-belted Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata subcincta)
10) Malagasy Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena)
11) Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
12) Moloch Gibbon (Hylobates moloch)
13) Sumatran Orang-utan (Pongo abelii)
14) Bornean Orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus)
15) Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta)
16) Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa)

Birds
17) Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
18) Chestnut-backed Thrush (Geokichla dohertyi)
19) Salvadori's Pheasant (Lophura inornata)
20) Bronze-tailed Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron chalcurum)
21) Javan Green Magpie (Cissa thalassina)
22) Sumatran Laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor)
23) Mindanao Bleeding Heart Dove (Gallicolumba crinigera)
24) Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
25) Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica)
26) Java Sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora)
27) Madagascar Red Fody (Foudia madagascariensis)
28) Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria)
29) Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii)
30) Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove (Gallicolumba luzonica)
31) Cinnamon Ground Dove (Gallicolumba rufigula)
32) Socorro Dove (Zenaida graysoni)
33) Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri)
34) Timor Sparrow (Lonchura fuscata)
35) Luzon Lowland Scops Owl (Otus megalotis)
36) White-naped Pheasant-pigeon (Otidiphaps aruensis)

Reptiles
37) Parson's Chameleon (Calumma parsonii)
38) Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)
39) Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
40) Antiguan Anole (Anolis leachii)
41) Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)
42) Jamaican Anole (Anolis grahami)
43) Salvadori's Monitor (Lophura inornata)
44) Boelen's Python (Morelia boeleni)
45) Ploughshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora)
46) Madagascar Spiny-tailed Iguana (Oplurus cuvieri)
47) Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)

 

Sorry for the confusion, I should've been clearer to start with!
I actually meant splitting up the lists in a similar way as the "Big Year" topics, meaning all three categories start at #1 and count separately towards 3 different goals: you'd now be at 16 points for mammals, 20 points for birds, and 11 points for reptiles.
This way, even people that aren't necessarily interested in one of the categories can still go for one or two of the others, without having to keep track of all of them just to be able to compete. There will still be an "overall" winner in which the totals of the three categories are combined, however.

 

Third time lucky

Chester Zoo- 01/01/2019

Mammals
1) Sulawesi Crested Macaque (Macaca negra)
2) Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairi)
3) Greater Hedgehog Tenrec (Setifer setosus)
4) Rodrigues Fruit Bat (Pteropus rodricensis)
5) Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons)
6) Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi)
7) Dusky Pademelon (Thylogale brunii)
8) Lowland Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis)
9) White-belted Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata subcincta)
10) Malagasy Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena)
11) Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
12) Moloch Gibbon (Hylobates moloch)
13) Sumatran Orang-utan (Pongo abelii)
14) Bornean Orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus)
15) Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta)
16) Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa)

Birds
1) Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
2) Chestnut-backed Thrush (Geokichla dohertyi)
3) Salvadori's Pheasant (Lophura inornata)
4) Bronze-tailed Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron chalcurum)
5) Javan Green Magpie (Cissa thalassina)
6) Sumatran Laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor)
7) Mindanao Bleeding Heart Dove (Gallicolumba crinigera)
8) Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
9) Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica)
10) Java Sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora)
11) Madagascar Red Fody (Foudia madagascariensis)
12) Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria)
13) Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii)
14) Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove (Gallicolumba luzonica)
15) Cinnamon Ground Dove (Gallicolumba rufigula)
16) Socorro Dove (Zenaida graysoni)
17) Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri)
18) Timor Sparrow (Lonchura fuscata)
19) Luzon Lowland Scops Owl (Otus megalotis)
20) White-naped Pheasant-pigeon (Otidiphaps aruensis)

Reptiles
1) Parson's Chameleon (Calumma parsonii)
2) Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)
3) Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
4) Antiguan Anole (Anolis leachii)
5) Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)
6) Jamaican Anole (Anolis grahami)
7) Salvadori's Monitor (Lophura inornata)
8) Boelen's Python (Morelia boeleni)
9) Ploughshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora)
10) Madagascar Spiny-tailed Iguana (Oplurus cuvieri)
11) Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)

Total; 47

 

Here we go!

Artis

Mammals

1. Rodrigues flying fox (Pteropus rodricensis)
2. New Guinea ground cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis)
3. Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata)
4. Red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra)
5. Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
6. Java mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus)
7. Grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)
8. Sulawesi crested macaque (Macaca nigra)
9. Lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis)

Birds

1. Kea (Nestor notabilis)
2. Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi)
3. Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria)
4. Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni)
5. Palawan peacock pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
6. Purple-naped lory (Lorius domicella)
7. Beautiful fruit dove (Ptilinopus pulchellus)

Reptiles

1. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
2. Philippine sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus)
3. Fiji banded iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus)
4. Roti Island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi)
5. Giant day gecko (Phelsuma grandis)
6. Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
7. Aldabra tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
8. Rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta)

 

Very well:

Artis

Mammals

1. Rodrigues flying fox (Pteropus rodricensis)
2. New Guinea ground cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis)
3. Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata)
4. Red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra)
5. Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
6. Grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)
7. Sulawesi crested macaque (Macaca nigra)
8. Lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis)

Birds

1. Kea (Nestor notabilis)
2. Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi)
3. Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria)
4. Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni)
5. Palawan peacock pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
6. Purple-naped lory (Lorius domicella)
7. Beautiful fruit dove (Ptilinopus pulchellus)

Reptiles

1. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
2. Philippine sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus)
3. Fiji banded iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus)
4. Roti Island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi)
5. Giant day gecko (Phelsuma grandis)
6. Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
7. Aldabra tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
8. Rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta)

TOTAL: 23

 

First time participating in a challenge on here, as I've never really bad the scope to compete - I've not been able to visit a vast amount of collections so far, but hopefully that will change this hear so I'm throwing my hat in the ring. Here goes:

Bristol Zoo Gardens - 2/1/19
Mammals

1. Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
2. Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
3. Lac Aloatra gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis)
4. Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons)
5. Goodfellow's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi)
6. Agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis)
7. Philippine mouse deer (Tragulus nigricans)
8. Ground cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis)

Reptiles

1. Malagasy tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis)
2. Emerald tree monitor (Varanus prasinus)
3. Utila spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri)
4. Cuban boa (Chilabothrus angulifer)
5. Blue tree monitor (Varanus macraei)
6. Prehensile tailed skink (Corucia zebrata)
7. Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
8. Yellow-headed day gecko (Phelsuma klemmeri)

Birds

1. Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni)
2. Sumatran laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor)
3. Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi)
4. Kea (Nestor notabilis)

Not a massively strong start, but I know there are plenty of eligible species I missed out on due to lack of time, so I shall try to collect those on my next visit!

 

Bristol does not keep Philippine Chevrotain, that's Chester.

~Thylo

 

Indeed, as @Chlidonias mentioned agile gibbon and the current population of lesser/Javan chevrotain don't count (unless research proves they are pure Javans before the end of the year!).

As for the rest: only the ranges as they are today are relevant, so I will let emerald tree monitor count. A better example to illustrate this might be Javan rhinoceros, which until fairly recently wasn't an island endemic but is now: so it would count if seen in a European zoo (imagine!).

This, of course, raises the question about what to do with species extinct in the wild: for those, the last location they were known to be in before extinction counts. The only species I could see this being relevant for are Socorro dove in the European challenge, and Guam rail, Guam kingfisher and (very hypothetically) Hawaiian crow in the American one (but there might be herps I'm forgetting!).

 

Thank you for those corrections, have updated the list below, mammals have taken a hit but I have added my 9th reptile which I forgot when writing it up!

Bristol Zoo Gardens - 2/1/19
Mammals

1. Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
2. Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
3. Lac Aloatra gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis)
4. Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons)
5. Goodfellow's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi)
6. Ground cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis)

Reptiles

1. Malagasy tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis)
2. Emerald tree monitor (Varanus prasinus)
3. Utila spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri)
4. Cuban boa (Chilabothrus angulifer)
5. Blue tree monitor (Varanus macraei)
6. Prehensile tailed skink (Corucia zebrata)
7. Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
8. Yellow-headed day gecko (Phelsuma klemmeri)
9. Aruba Island rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus unicolor)

Birds

1. Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni)
2. Sumatran laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor)
3. Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi)
4. Kea (Nestor notabilis)

 

I think you have a valid point, but to simplify the challenge a little we decided to count animals that are island endemics as of today (or, in special cases, were before they became extinct in the wild such as the earlier mentioned Socorro dove). Even if it's a remnant population, the species is now unique to one (or multiple) island(s).

 

Only this subspecies is an island endemic, C. durissus is present throughout the South American continent.

~Thylo

 

Will be heading back to the UK next week for another term at university, but I managed to fit in a visit to Warsaw Zoo today:

Mammals:
1) Red Ruffed Lemur Varecia rubra
2) Ring-tailed Lemur Lemur catta
3) Celebes Crested Macaque Macaca nigra
4) Philippine Mouse Deer Tragulus nigricans

Birds:
1) Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora
2) White Cockatoo Cacatua alba
3) Kea Nestor notabilis
4) Madagascar Partidge Margaroperdix madagascariensis
5) Black-naped Fruit-dove Ptilinopus melanospilus
6) Victoria Crowned-pigeon Goura victoria
7) Crested Quail Dove Geotrygon versicolor
8) Bali Myna Leucopsar rothschildi
9) Yellow-breasted Fruit-dove Ptilinopus occipitalis
10) Mindanao Bleeding-heart Gallicolumba crinigera
11) Madagascar Fody Foudia madagascariensis
12) Madagascar Teal Anas bernieri
13) Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica
14) Luzon Bleeding-heart Gallicolumba luzonica
15) Red-knobbed Imperial-pigeon Ducula rubricera

Reptiles:
1) New Guinea Snapping Turtle Elseya novaeguineae
2) Cuban Boa Epicrates angulifer
3) Roti-island Snake-necked Turtle Chelodina mccordi
4) Radiated Tortoise Astrochelys radiata
5) Standing's Day Gecko Phelsuma standingi
6) Panther Chameleon Furcifer pardalis
7) Cuban Crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer

Total: 26

 

What about King penguins, there are only colonies on islands and not on one of the continents (the small colony on Tierra del Fuego comes closest), but they do feed around the continent and must come on land there sometimes....