ZooChat Challenge Global 2022

Another difficulty is that most places keep their sharks in mixed exhibits, where it can be difficult to identify similar-looking species when you aren't very knowledgeable of sharks. I could see this being something that leads to some inaccuracies, where people say they saw a species they didn't, or vice versa.

 

I don't think that the total numbers can be affected too much of one extra taxon, especially when we have significantly high maximum total. I'm not sure, when I can join, but I'm in. This addition can make some Aquarium visits more exciting , than they usually are.

 

I think adding in sharks is a great idea. I’ve very rarely seen any signage inconsistencies with sharks, and most species kept are easily distinguishable from others. If not, ask! There are plenty of people willing to help here and I also don’t think it would be too hard to keep track of one more thing on top of the list already.

 

The sheer number of species in many large tanks would make it difficult for me to keep track of sharks, as well, I think.

 

We don't have to add them, but I do have to say that I have never seen an aquarium not sign their sharks in a large mixed tank. These tanks are usually the "star" exhibit at the aquarium and with sharks being the main attraction they're always well signed. I understand the concern, but also want to note that the point of the challenge isn't necessarily to make keeping track of species as easy as possible, it also comes down to the individual paying attention to what they're seeing and making an effort to keep track of that. Just a few minutes spent at any given mixed shark tank should suffice to figure out what's what based on the signage.

~Thylo

 

I'm in favor of adding sharks, it's not that difficult to identify them and they are almost always signed. I've never seen an aquarium where the star sharks weren't all signed. It's not like we're talking about freshwater tetras or something. I say include them.

 

Certainly in my admittedly-limited visits to aquariums, I've never seen sharks not be signed.

 

I think sharks Would be a great Idea to add to this Challenge.

 

My opinion is also that adding sharks to a Zoochat Challenge is a great idea, and the best thing about my opinion is how unbiased it is.

 

Zoo Berlin 22.01.2022

1. Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choerpsis liberensis)
2. Nile Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
3. Tawny-eyed frogmouth (Podargus strogoides)
4. Javan chevrotain (Tragulus javanicus)
5. Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo)
6. Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus)
7. Great grey owl (Strix nebulosa)
8. Southern Three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)
9. Linneaus' two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
10. Cape porcupine (hystrix afroaustalis)
11.Lion (Panthera leo)
12, Tiger (Panthera tigris)
13. Red kangaroo (Orsphanter rufus)
14. Parma wallaby (Macropus parma)

No aquarium, a couple no-shows and obv. no nocturnal house.

 

Adding from visit to Hamerton Zoo:

27. Dingo (Canis lupus dingo)

Johnson's of Old Hurst 22nd Jan:

28. Puma (Puma Concolor)
29. Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
30. Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata)
31. Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
32. Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus)
33. Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus)
34. Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

 

Minnesota Zoo 1/18/22
1) Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
2) Linne's Two-Toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
3) Southern Three-Banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)
4) Cape Porcupine ( Hystrix africaeaustralis)
5) North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)
6) Long-Haired Fruit Bat (Rousettus lanosus)
7) Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
8) Straw-Colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum)
9) Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
10) Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)
11) Cougar (Puma concolor)
12) Canadian lynx ((Lynx canadensis)
13) Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
14) Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
15) Coyote (Canis latrans)
16) Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
17) Eurasian Wolverine (Gulo gulo gulo)
18) Fisher (Pekania pennanti)
19) Great-Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
20) Henkel's Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)
21) Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)

 

Helsinki zoo 23/1/22
1. Lion (Panthera leo)
2. Tiger (Panthera tigris)
3. Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis
4. Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus)
5. Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)
6. European pine marten (Martes martes)
7. Red necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)
8. Boreal owl (Aegolius funereus)
9. Hawk owl (Surnia ulula)
10. Eurasian Pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum)

 

Barleylands 23 January

45 Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
46 Four eyed opossum (Philander opossum)
47 Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps)
48 Tailess tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus)
49 Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
50 Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus)
51 Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
52 Long-eared owl (Asio otus)
53 Tawny owl (Strix aluco)

One to add for Hamerton
54 Dingo (Canis dingo)

 

I suppose it's time for an official announcement:

As earlier stated in the thread, there has been interest in adding sharks to the roster of the challenge. I am here to officialize this sentiment. The following orders will be added to the list of nocturnal animals (please let me know if anything is missing, but I'm sure that it won't be too hard to just know what counts as a shark):

Hexanchiformes
Carcharhiniformes
Lamniformes
Orectolobirformes
Heterodontiformes

It would be much appreciated if a staff member could add these changes into the thread's first post .

 

Following this...

Mystic Aquarium
40) Dusky Smooth Dogfish Mustelus canis
41) Brown-Banded Bamboo-Shark Chiloscyllium punctatum
42) Epaulette Shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum
43) Spotted Wobbegong Orectolobus maculatus
44) Chain Dogfish Scyliorhinus retifer
45) Sand Tiger Shark Carcharias taurus
46) Atlantic Nurse Shark Ginglymostoma cirratum

~Thylo

 

As it happens I've visited an aquarium today so I'll have to go through my photos and see what I saw. Good job I was keeping notes just in case...

 

Okay so with that in place a few more animals to go in here once again like before from Newport Aquarium
2. Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)
3. Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
4. Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci)
5. Pajama Catshark (Poroderma africanum)
6. Blacktip Reefshark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
7. Port Jackson Shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
8. Swell Shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum)

 

Five more sharks to add from my visit to Minnesota .
22. Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)
23. Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
24. Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)
25. Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci)
26. Zebra Shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)

 

Mate, I can't wait to see how many sharks you add, but I fear that their addition will only boost US members totals! I didn't comment earlier but the UK aquariums in general offer little,so would just have been sour grapes! I for one will probably add zero for sharks as I refuse to pay £20 plus for a sea life I will spend half an hour in! I am not going to travel half the country to other aquariums either but I may find myself in Bournemouth! Just my rant- over. I accept the majority decision