Well, the title says it: similar to the European, UK, and global challenges of years past, this year I’m making a North American one (as there’s no North America general forum I’ve posted it in the US, but anybody is welcome to participate)!
This year, the inaugural North American challenges focused on a broad and diverse group: reptiles! While some zoos have much more sizable collections than others, many diverse collections are found throughout the continent.
Though I wasn’t around then, it was apparently @Shorts who created the rules for the original challenge, so thanks to him for that! I’ve adjusted a few of them for clarity for this specific challenge. Thanks also to @ThylacineAlive and @Vision, who encouraged me to make the challenge.
The rules are:
1. You have to actually see the animal, even if just for a second. Seeing the sign for the animal or simply visiting the collection that has it does not count.
2. Photographic proof is not required, though it of course always helps to keep track of what you’ve seen. Your word is your bond.
3. All entries must be presented in numbered list form, with scientific names included.*
4. You have to see the animal via normal public access during normal public opening hours. Behind-the-scenes tours, whether offered by the zoo commercially or by a certain individual privately, do not count, nor do keeper-for-a-day programs or anything of the sort. Basically the species has to be seen as Joe Public would, from the public area of the zoo while it is open.
5. Any severely limited opening or private collections don't count for this challenge. While some may disagree with this rule, it disadvantages others who are unable to arrange visits to such collections during those times. Facilities that may only be visited by tours are acceptable as long as the tours are offered during a large portion of the year. An example of this, I believe (I haven’t been there) is the Phoenix Herpetological Society.
6. Only public zoological collections count. Animals seen at farms, exotic animal expos, or pet stores of any kind do not count. If a certain collection is confusing to you, please feel free to reply here or PM me with questions.
7. Report your progress on this thread as you go along. While you won’t lose points for not doing so, it is more competitive if each person can see how all the other participants are faring. You do not need to re-type your list every time you update, quoting the previous post is sufficient. Include the collection you saw the species at and the date you visited it.
8. Only one subspecies per species can be counted. If you do not see a pure subspecies, it is still okay to count the species. Refer to Reptile Database for any subspecies questions or elevations*.
9. Similarly, refer to Reptile Database for any species splits*.
10. Domestics do not count, the animals must be in a wild form. You can count a species that's been domesticated just as long as the animal you're looking at isn't (i.e. Australian Zebra Finches count but Domestic Zebra Finches do not). I do not believe this will be an issue with reptiles.
11. Hybrid animals do not count. Any issues that may arise due to the taxonomy we are following will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
12. Wild animals do not count, all species must be seen in captivity in North America under the conditions listed above.
13. Any issues with any of the above rules is open to discussion but the rules are set and any decisions made are final.
14. The winner will be the person who has seen the most species by December 31, 2018. Please be sure to have all of your entries in by this date.
*for scientific names and other taxonomy-based issues (such as subspecies being elevated or splits), we will be using Reptile Database. It is obvious that not everyone will agree with their choices but for just a blanket taxonomy I decided to use them. Iit is simple to plug in whatever species into their search database (found here: Advanced search | The Reptile Database). I am not too bothered if someone puts an animal in a different genus, but species level is a more important matter for the purposes of the challenge.
For the purposes of this challenge, birds do not count as reptiles (I know that many people do consider them reptiles but am not too knowledgeable about the subject). We’re just sticking with good old Crocodilia, Sphenodontia, Squamata, and Testudines.
I posted this a bit early, just in case anyone wants to do some last-minute planning for January 1st.
With that said, good luck, everybody! Have a happy 2018 and a great zoo-visiting year!
This year, the inaugural North American challenges focused on a broad and diverse group: reptiles! While some zoos have much more sizable collections than others, many diverse collections are found throughout the continent.
Though I wasn’t around then, it was apparently @Shorts who created the rules for the original challenge, so thanks to him for that! I’ve adjusted a few of them for clarity for this specific challenge. Thanks also to @ThylacineAlive and @Vision, who encouraged me to make the challenge.
The rules are:
1. You have to actually see the animal, even if just for a second. Seeing the sign for the animal or simply visiting the collection that has it does not count.
2. Photographic proof is not required, though it of course always helps to keep track of what you’ve seen. Your word is your bond.
3. All entries must be presented in numbered list form, with scientific names included.*
4. You have to see the animal via normal public access during normal public opening hours. Behind-the-scenes tours, whether offered by the zoo commercially or by a certain individual privately, do not count, nor do keeper-for-a-day programs or anything of the sort. Basically the species has to be seen as Joe Public would, from the public area of the zoo while it is open.
5. Any severely limited opening or private collections don't count for this challenge. While some may disagree with this rule, it disadvantages others who are unable to arrange visits to such collections during those times. Facilities that may only be visited by tours are acceptable as long as the tours are offered during a large portion of the year. An example of this, I believe (I haven’t been there) is the Phoenix Herpetological Society.
6. Only public zoological collections count. Animals seen at farms, exotic animal expos, or pet stores of any kind do not count. If a certain collection is confusing to you, please feel free to reply here or PM me with questions.
7. Report your progress on this thread as you go along. While you won’t lose points for not doing so, it is more competitive if each person can see how all the other participants are faring. You do not need to re-type your list every time you update, quoting the previous post is sufficient. Include the collection you saw the species at and the date you visited it.
8. Only one subspecies per species can be counted. If you do not see a pure subspecies, it is still okay to count the species. Refer to Reptile Database for any subspecies questions or elevations*.
9. Similarly, refer to Reptile Database for any species splits*.
10. Domestics do not count, the animals must be in a wild form. You can count a species that's been domesticated just as long as the animal you're looking at isn't (i.e. Australian Zebra Finches count but Domestic Zebra Finches do not). I do not believe this will be an issue with reptiles.
11. Hybrid animals do not count. Any issues that may arise due to the taxonomy we are following will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
12. Wild animals do not count, all species must be seen in captivity in North America under the conditions listed above.
13. Any issues with any of the above rules is open to discussion but the rules are set and any decisions made are final.
14. The winner will be the person who has seen the most species by December 31, 2018. Please be sure to have all of your entries in by this date.
*for scientific names and other taxonomy-based issues (such as subspecies being elevated or splits), we will be using Reptile Database. It is obvious that not everyone will agree with their choices but for just a blanket taxonomy I decided to use them. Iit is simple to plug in whatever species into their search database (found here: Advanced search | The Reptile Database). I am not too bothered if someone puts an animal in a different genus, but species level is a more important matter for the purposes of the challenge.
For the purposes of this challenge, birds do not count as reptiles (I know that many people do consider them reptiles but am not too knowledgeable about the subject). We’re just sticking with good old Crocodilia, Sphenodontia, Squamata, and Testudines.
I posted this a bit early, just in case anyone wants to do some last-minute planning for January 1st.
With that said, good luck, everybody! Have a happy 2018 and a great zoo-visiting year!
