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Been to the Zoo Recently?

Hello again!
I mentioned in my "Reptiles of UNC" thread in that subforum that the herpetology class was planning a special trip to the Denver Zoo. However as I took a lot of pics I decided that making a separate thread here (it's not just reptiles) was a better idea. There will be several posts before this is over, feel free to share any pics you might have too!

First shot of the trip, visited the cats and this snow leopard was hanging out on a swing
snow leopard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Several hours later, and I think this was the same guy up there
Snow leopard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Leopard #2
snow leopard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

serval by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Serval by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Serval by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
amur leopard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Amur leopard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

The Siberian tiger was enjoying himself too
Siberian tiger by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
These two pics a few hours later prove that animals have no shame...
Siberian tiger by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Siberian tiger by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

Addy by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Peacock by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

Next post will start the special tour we got....
 
Important anywhere you have venomous snakes, this is the antivenom fridge
Antivenom fridge by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

Several animals in the back, not on display, often with additionals of the same species that were out to see:
In back
Trimeresurus insularis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
On display
Trimeresurus insularis by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Unknown sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
In back
Vietnamese pit viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
vs. on display
vietnamese pit viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
In back
McGregor's pit viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
vs. on display
McGregor's pit viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Many-horned adder by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Cuban knight anole by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
In back
Male Brazilian lancehead by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
vs. on display
Brazilian lancehead, female by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Slender hognose viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Giant anole sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
madagascan rainbow sand lizard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

Up next, turtles, fish and frogs...
 
Denver Zoo was one of the first places to successfully captive breed this turtle species. These guys are all in a habitat that is not viewable to the public
Sulawesi forest turtle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Sulawesi forest turtle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Sulawesi forest turtle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Sulawesi forest turtle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

seahorse sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This is another critically endangered turtle species, there were several of them around the facility
blac breasted leaf turtle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
black breasted leaf turtle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Lots of little fish species
unknown fish sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
The two below are both extinct in the wild, kept alive currently via the pet trade
crescent zoe by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Golden skiffia by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
unknown fish sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
green tree python by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Lots of pretty pythons
green tree python by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
And funky frogs
mossy frog by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
dart frog sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Dyeing poison dart frog by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Dyeing poison dart frog by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
The Panamanian Golden Frog is critically endangered in the wild, under attack by chytrid and efforts are being made so that it doesn't go the way of the Golden Toad
Panamanian golden frog by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
One of two frogfish, this one in back...
frogfish by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
And this one on display. They can't be kept together because, despite being nearly the same size, one might eat the other.
frogfish by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Asian box turtles are endangered almost entirely thanks to the turtle meat trade in Aisa
Asian box turtle female by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Asian box turtle male by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Spotted turtle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
One of the lizards in back not on display.
Water dragon by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

Up next, one of my favorite points of the trip....by the way, I know we have some aquarium people on here, any ID you might be able to give on some of the small fish is appreciated
 
Alright, the probable highlight of the trip....starting off, a tooth from one of the Komodo Dragons
Komodo dragon tooth by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
And this is the first female, around 7 feet long and content to laze about on her platform
Christica by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Christica by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Christica by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
The second female was also lazing about in the back
Anika by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Anika by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Anika by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

And lastly, but most excitingly: the big male, Raja. He was I estimate 8-9 feet long, and according to the keeper has a thing for neck scratches. Take a wild guess what was actually separating us from him in these pics :D
Raja by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Raja by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Raja by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Raja by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
 
.by the way, I know we have some aquarium people on here, any ID you might be able to give on some of the small fish is appreciated

Great pics, Hawkin! The first unknown fish looks like some type of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) based on fin arrangement and mouth anatomy, but I've never seen any with those spotted patterns. The other unknown could a cyprinodont (killifish) of the genus Fundulus, Cyprinodon, or Pachypanchax, but it's hard to tell from the angle the large male in front is posed. Wish I could be of more help.
 
It's not a terrible concern if they don't get labeled, but thanks for the input! I do think the second unknown is a killifish (I recall that label on one of the tanks), but the first...well, with the pictures I pulled up for that group I wonder...

Also, slightly unrelated, but there's no i in my name :)
 
Mmm...Dragon tooth and nails
 
The first unknown fish is a Goodeid of some kind. The pic is terrible in terms of making an id, but given the body shape, and the rest of the freshwater collection it's pretty obvious. Maybe Characodon lateralis?.The other two extirpated species are also Goodeids. Many Goodeied species are very recently extinct, extirpated and endangered. Likewise with the Pupfish, killies that largely live in the same geographic region as the Goodeids. Number two is a Pupfish. Again from an id standpoint the pic is terrible, but given the other extirpated fish species they maintain, Cyprinodon alvarezi would be my first guess.
 
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Neither of the unknown fish are pupfish, certainly not that species (note the middle two pics in that particular lineup do have names, 1st and 4th are the unknowns). The first fish might be a Characodon going by the pics I'm pulling up.
The fish weren't the focus for this trip, plus we were almost always on the move on this tour, so I didn't have time to snap clear pics or wait for the fish to stop moving, sorry for that.
 
  • #10
The rest of the images are from after the tour, animals on display...
rhino iguana by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
rhino iguana by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
New Caledonia giant gecko by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
sailfin lizard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
black tree monitor by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
siamese crocodile by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Siamese crocodile by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Mata mata by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Mata mata by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Mexican spiny tailed iguana by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
tricolor squirrel by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
tricolor squirrel by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
cave fish by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
crocodile monitor by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
golden poison dart frog by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
milk frogs by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
There were also a couple orchids in the tropical building...
Orchid sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Orchid sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
 
  • #11
King cobra didn't want to leave his cage so they could clean it, just stuck his head out the door. He's probably a good 13 feet long.
King Cobra by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Cascavels are beautiful...
Cascavel by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Suphan cobra by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Note, the name for this is singular. He was hiding in the back so the pic is terrible...
Rinkhals by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Sumatran pit viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Wagler's pit viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
bushmaster by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
peacock bass by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
I think this was a female, at least 14 feet.
green anaconda by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Emerald tree monitor by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Emerald tree monitor by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Saw this guy only just as he was leaving the cage, so I only got his tail.... :p
W. African green mamba by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
My mother's favorite kind of snake..
gaboon viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
tropical bird snake by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
I hate glare...
caiman lizard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
caiman lizard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
His buddy was a little easier to photograph
caiman lizard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Jameson's mamba by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
fiji iguana by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
eyelash viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
tentacled snake by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
archerfish by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
mudskipper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
 
  • #12
Some great pics of the herps there. I've never even heard of a Fijian iguana - very cool coloring. Awesome to be so close to the Komodos.
 
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  • #13
The Komodos were definitely the highlight. Could have given Raja the scratches he likes if I had been so inclined....

moray sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
zebra moray by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
florida kingsnake by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
I love the scientific name of these guys: Crotalus adamanteus
Eastern diamondback by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
alligator snapping turtle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
unknown tree frog by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
eastern newt by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Everglades/grey rat snake hybrid by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
vinegaroon by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
blue discus fish by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
flounder by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
flounder by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
These guys are critically endangered, restricted to a very small mountain range. They also get big, and are typically rather docile...
Mangshan pit viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
snake neck turtle by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
beaded lizard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Spot the adorable toad :) :
Bumblebee toad by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Shingleback by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Austalian frilled lizard by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
unknown sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
unknown sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
horned bush adder by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Uromastyx by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This guy was attempting to escape...
Uromastyx by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Arizona ridge-nose rattlesnake by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Side-striped pit viper by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr

That's it for the tropical house, but there's more to come...
 
  • #14
The unknown lizard species in that last set was some type of basilisk, I believe. Great stuff. I'm digging it! Kudos on the discus pic. It is difficult to get iridescence to show properly in a photograph.
 
  • #15
The fish wouldn't stop moving, so that was also the most decent shot I had. The lizard was an Old World species, I recall that much, so part of the agamid family and not the iquanids (which the basilisks belong to). One of the water dragon species I think.....
 
  • #16
That unknown lizard is a Gonocephalus species, likely G.grandis. And to fill in a few more gaps in the herpetological ID's...... The "Giant Anole" is a Chamaeleolis species, most likely C.barbatus. The orange Dart Frog is Phyllobates bicolor and the next 2 Are both Dendrobates tinctorius, the 1st one is a morph known as "Alanis" and the 2nd, "Patricia". The "Water Dragon" is actually a Weber's Sailfin Dragon, Hydrosaurus weberi. The Unknown Tree Frog appears to be Hyla gratiosa but it's hard to tell 100% from that photo.

Hope this helps.
 
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  • #17
Unknown fish is a Crescent Tailed Goodeid, Zoogenuticus tequilae.
 
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  • #18
The tree frog isn't that species, skin's too smooth and the patterning is different. Not a serious concern of course, these were pics for fun. I think you're right on the anole species, and dyeing poison is a common name for tinctorius (I am not certain that the zoo is keen on keeping different morphs, more general species). Gonocephalus looks correct, the "water dragon" might be another sailfin; they didn't have a label on him that I recall in back.
SubRosa, I think you're correct, if you were referring to the most recent unknown.
 
  • #19
red panda by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
red panda by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Secretary bird by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Syrian wild *** by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
This guy (and his playmates) wouldn't stop moving, made it very difficult to get a pic
Asian small-clawed otter by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
fishing cat by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
fishing cat by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Solomon Island skink by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
leaf litter frog by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Asian hornbill by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
Asian crane sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
unknown sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
African pygmy falcon by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
These guys took flight a couple times while watching, incredibly bright wings and tail
blue bellied roller by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
crested forest partridge by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
tawny frogmouth by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
unknown sp. by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
 
  • #20
No, but I almost went to Wal-Mart today. Does that count?
 
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