Animals You've Seen That Few Zoochatters Have Seen

[animal_expert01]

I know I have posted a list on this thread previously but I would like to update my list. I know quite a few will have seen the species on my captive list but has anyone seen any of the species on my wild list?

Captive
Julia Creek Dunnart
Proserpine Rock Wallaby
Leopard Seal
Proboscis Monkey
Bridled Nailtail Wallaby
Yellow Bellied Glider
Southern Corroboree Frog

Wild
Rufous Bettong**
Australian Bustard
Paradise Riflebird
Mary River Cod
Banded Plover*
Black Bittern
Blind Shark
Ornate Rainbowfish
Ragged Snake Eyed Skink
Elegant Snake Eyed Skink
Red Kangaroo* **
Rose Crowned Fruit Dove
Emu* **
Spinifex Pigeon
Leaden Flycatcher
Emerald Dove
Australian Pratincole
Fairy Penguin* **
Blue Billed Duck
Major Skink
Platypus* **
Comb Crested Jacana

*means I think quite a few people would have seen them in the wild but I'm asking just in case.
** means I have also seen the animal in captivity

 

[amur leopard]

How readily can Cyprus Spiny Mice be seen? I was under the impression that they're thought to be on the brink of extinction and hardly anyone being able to find them, this being why the IUCN lists them as Data Deficient as opposed to endangered.

Also, I'd love to hear the story behind the marmot! Any photos?

~Thylo

That is strange because my grandparents say that they see them very frequently, and when we saw one, quite close up actually, they said ' Oh, it's just a spiny mouse...'

I wonder how hard IUCN are looking for them... My grandparents also added that they were really quite widespread when we saw one again later on?

The marmot was really quite interesting and actually quite recent, although, again, since it was a flight there, I couldn't take my camera due to baggage restrictions (don't know how this works, but). Basically, my uncle lives on Vancouver Island on a boat. He essentially told us that there were a few really nice walks on the island. We got a bit off track on one of them around midday and a pair of marmots were just munching on grass about 200 metres away. When my uncle saw them, he got pretty excited and may or may not have just started running towards them. Sadly, before anybody could really get any snaps, the marmots shot back into a sort of small ravine where they promptly disappeared. Not that it would have mattered about the photos because the best calibre of camera present was an iPhone...

 

[lintworm]

I wonder how hard IUCN are looking for them... My grandparents also added that they were really quite widespread when we saw one again later on?

When choosing between the IUCN and a grandfather to see whom to believe how common certain animals are, I would normally always go for IUCN. No disrespect to your grandfather but it sounds very likely as a misidentification.

 

[Chlidonias]

... has anyone seen any of the species on my wild list?

Wild
Rufous Bettong**
Australian Bustard
Paradise Riflebird
Mary River Cod
Banded Plover*
Black Bittern
Blind Shark
Ornate Rainbowfish
Ragged Snake Eyed Skink
Elegant Snake Eyed Skink
Red Kangaroo* **
Rose Crowned Fruit Dove
Emu* **
Spinifex Pigeon
Leaden Flycatcher
Emerald Dove
Australian Pratincole
Fairy Penguin* **
Blue Billed Duck
Major Skink
Platypus* **
Comb Crested Jacana

*means I think quite a few people would have seen them in the wild but I'm asking just in case.
** means I have also seen the animal in captivity

I've seen the following wild ones (just from the birds and mammals):

Rufous Bettong
Paradise Riflebird
Banded Plover (this is Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor, right?)
Black Bittern
Rose-crowned Fruit Dove
Leaden Flycatcher
Emerald Dove
Australian Pratincole
Fairy Penguin
Blue-billed Duck
Platypus
Comb-crested Jacana

So, basically, from your list only missing the Australian Bustard, Red Kangaroo, Emu, and Spinifex Pigeon.

 

[amur leopard]

When choosing between the IUCN and a grandfather to see whom to believe how common certain animals are, I would normally always go for IUCN. No disrespect to your grandfather but it sounds very likely as a misidentification.

Yes, now I come to think of it, it probably was a misidentification. However, any idea what it was then? It might just have been a Brown rat with a wet backside?

 

[ThylacineAlive]

That is strange because my grandparents say that they see them very frequently, and when we saw one, quite close up actually, they said ' Oh, it's just a spiny mouse...'

I wonder how hard IUCN are looking for them... My grandparents also added that they were really quite widespread when we saw one again later on?

The marmot was really quite interesting and actually quite recent, although, again, since it was a flight there, I couldn't take my camera due to baggage restrictions (don't know how this works, but). Basically, my uncle lives on Vancouver Island on a boat. He essentially told us that there were a few really nice walks on the island. We got a bit off track on one of them around midday and a pair of marmots were just munching on grass about 200 metres away. When my uncle saw them, he got pretty excited and may or may not have just started running towards them. Sadly, before anybody could really get any snaps, the marmots shot back into a sort of small ravine where they promptly disappeared. Not that it would have mattered about the photos because the best calibre of camera present was an iPhone...

I agree with @lintworm that your grandparents have likely misidentified the rodents. If not, though, their presence is a huge discovery and I'd encourage you to ask them to try and get photos or any other proof (without disturbing the animals obviously) of their existence so it can be properly reported!

As for the marmot, the IUCN states that they typically live 900-1,400 meters above sea level in the central portions of the island so if your uncle lives on a boat near the coastline then this is likely to be another misidentification. The IUCN does mention that their exact range is currently unknown and that a lot of their potential habitat has gone unsurveyed, though again I don't think they've ever been known to historically inhabit lower coastal habitats. Also, the airline didn't let you take your camera to Vancouver?

~Thylo

 

[amur leopard]

As for the marmot, the IUCN states that they typically live 900-1,400 meters above sea level in the central portions of the island so if your uncle lives on a boat near the coastline then this is likely to be another misidentification. The IUCN does mention that their exact range is currently unknown and that a lot of their potential habitat has gone unsurveyed, though again I don't think they've ever been known to historically inhabit lower coastal habitats. Also, the airline didn't let you take your camera to Vancouver?

It was a camping trip and it was in the mountains down the centre of the island a bit nearer to the Eastern coast than the Western coast, and I am sure of them.

I will speak to my grandparents - I'm going to Cyprus yet again this summer so I will have another look

 

[animal_expert01]

I've seen the following wild ones (just from the birds and mammals):

Rufous Bettong
Paradise Riflebird
Banded Plover (this is Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor, right?)
Black Bittern
Rose-crowned Fruit Dove
Leaden Flycatcher
Emerald Dove
Australian Pratincole
Fairy Penguin
Blue-billed Duck
Platypus
Comb-crested Jacana

So, basically, from your list only missing the Australian Bustard, Red Kangaroo, Emu, and Spinifex Pigeon.

Where did you see Paradise Riflebird? Has anyone seen any of the other species? I've tagged people who I think might have seen the rest of my list in the wild. @Najade @WhistlingKite24 @Hix @boof @Dannelboyz @MRJ and maybe a few others. Also has anyone seen Radjah Shelduck?

 

[Chlidonias]

Where did you see Paradise Riflebird?

Lamington National Park.

 

[Hix]

I know I have posted a list on this thread previously but I would like to update my list. I know quite a few will have seen the species on my captive list but has anyone seen any of the species on my wild list?

Captive
Julia Creek Dunnart
Proserpine Rock Wallaby
Leopard Seal
Proboscis Monkey
Bridled Nailtail Wallaby
Yellow Bellied Glider
Southern Corroboree Frog

Wild
Rufous Bettong**
Australian Bustard
Paradise Riflebird
Mary River Cod
Banded Plover*
Black Bittern
Blind Shark
Ornate Rainbowfish
Ragged Snake Eyed Skink
Elegant Snake Eyed Skink
Red Kangaroo* **
Rose Crowned Fruit Dove
Emu* **
Spinifex Pigeon
Leaden Flycatcher
Emerald Dove
Australian Pratincole
Fairy Penguin* **
Blue Billed Duck
Major Skink
Platypus* **
Comb Crested Jacana

*means I think quite a few people would have seen them in the wild but I'm asking just in case.
** means I have also seen the animal in captivity

Because you asked, I've seen in the wild:

Australian Bustard
Banded Lapwing/Plover
Red Kangaroo
Emu
Spinifex Pigeon
Leaden Flycatcher
Emerald Dove (both the Pacific and Asian species)
Australian Pratincole
Fairy Penguin
Blue-billed Duck
Platypus
Comb-crested Jacana

And Radjah Shelduck.



Hix

 

[carl the birder]

Which I now have also seen as of today
For me, in the wild, a whole load of Cypriot endemic fauna:

Cyprus warbler
Cyprus wheatear
Cyprus mouse
Cyprus spiny mouse
Cypriot mouflon
Cyprus whip snake
Troodos lizard
Cyprus water frog
Cyprus green toad

In fact I think that is all the endemics in Cyprus in terms of vertebrates...

Otherwise, Camargue horses (not really a species, but...), Eleonora's falcon, Cyprus chukar, Amur falcon, Vancouver island marmots.

In zoos, I guess Chinese pangolins are a highlight as well as Iberian lynx.

did you se the amur falcon on cyprus? they are a huge rarity white 6 records or something like that in Europe?

 

[amur leopard]

did you se the amur falcon on cyprus? they are a huge rarity white 6 records or something like that in Europe?

No it was in China.

 

[Chlidonias]

No it was in China.

When were you in China?

 

[amur leopard]

I was in China during the October half term holidays the year before last. My mother has a very packed schedule and had a meeting in China, so we went out to meet her and see a bit of Guangzhou with her.

 

[boof]

I know I have posted a list on this thread previously but I would like to update my list. I know quite a few will have seen the species on my captive list but has anyone seen any of the species on my wild list?

Captive
Julia Creek Dunnart
Proserpine Rock Wallaby
Leopard Seal
Proboscis Monkey
Bridled Nailtail Wallaby
Yellow Bellied Glider
Southern Corroboree Frog

Wild
Rufous Bettong**
Australian Bustard
Paradise Riflebird
Mary River Cod
Banded Plover*
Black Bittern
Blind Shark
Ornate Rainbowfish
Ragged Snake Eyed Skink
Elegant Snake Eyed Skink
Red Kangaroo* **
Rose Crowned Fruit Dove
Emu* **
Spinifex Pigeon
Leaden Flycatcher
Emerald Dove
Australian Pratincole
Fairy Penguin* **
Blue Billed Duck
Major Skink
Platypus* **
Comb Crested Jacana

*means I think quite a few people would have seen them in the wild but I'm asking just in case.
** means I have also seen the animal in captivity

Proboscis monkey = in Borneo in 2005
bustard = in the Northern Territory and also in my home town
banded plover = again here in my home town
black bittern, rose crowned fruit pigeon, emerald dove and jacana = in Darwin
red kangaroo and emu = common around my town.
pranticlole = only once out near a small town called coolabah
blue billed duck and leaden flycatcher = in the Illawarra region

 

[Dannelboyz]

@animal_expert01 of your captive list I've seen Leopard Seal (wild), Proboscis Monkey (captive and wild), Yellow-bellied Glider (captive and wild) and Southern Corroboree Frog (captive). Of your wild list, I've seen Australian Bustard, Banded Lapwing, Red Kangaroo, Emu, Leaden Flycatcher, Pacific Emerald Dove, Australian Pratincole, Little Penguin, Blue-billed Duck and Platypus. I've also seen Rufous Bettong in captivity, but not wild.

I'll have to think a bit more about my captive list but in terms of unusual/rare wild animals, this is my best attempt at compiling a list

MAMMALS
- Platypus
- Tasmanian Devil
- Fat-tailed Dunnart
- Dusky Antechinus
- Eastern Barred Bandicoot
- Southern Long-nosed Bandicoot
- Southern Brown Bandicoot
- Feathertail Glider sp.
- Yellow-bellied Glider
- Southern Greater Glider
- Mountain Brushtail Possum
- Cream-coloured Giant Squirrel
- Least Pygmy Squirrel
- Sunda Colugo
- Horsfield's Tarsier
- Proboscis Monkey
- Silvery Lutung
- Island Fox
- Leopard Seal
- Bornean Bearded Pig

BIRDS
- Australian Bustard
- Spotted Nightjar
- White-throated Nightjar
- Australian Owlet-Nightjar
- Australian Pratincole
- Black Noddy
- Common Noddy
- Grey Ternlet
- White Tern
- Red-tailed Tropicbird
- Wilson's Storm-Petrel
- White-faced Storm-Petrel
- Southern Royal Albatross
- Wandering Albatross
- Shy Albatross
- Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
- Grey-faced Petrel
- Great-winged Petrel
- Kermadec Petrel
- Providence Petrel
- Cape Petrel
- White-necked Petrel
- Southern Giant-petrel
- Southern Fulmar
- White-chinned Petrel
- Hutton's Shearwater
- Red-footed Booby
- Australasian Bittern
- Australian Little Bittern
- Greater Sooty Owl
- Rhinoceros Hornbill
- Norfolk Island Parakeet
- Swift Parrot
- Orange-bellied Parrot
- Mallee Emuwren
- Striated Grasswren
- Pied Honeyeater
- Painted Honeyeater
- Norfolk Island Gerygone
- Chestnut-crowned Babbler
- Spotted Quailthrush
- Chestnut Quailthrush
- Norfolk Island Robin
- Pink Robin
- Slender-billed White-eye

 

[Ituri]

- Southern Idaho Ground Squirrel
- Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel
- Merriam's Ground Squirrel
- Belding's Ground Squirrel
- Columbian Ground Squirrel
- Piute Ground Squirrel
- Red-tailed Chipmunk
- Yellow Pine Chipmunk
- Northern Pocket Gopher
- Greater Sage Grouse
- Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse

and from Giant Eland's list:
- Utah Prairie Dog
- White-tailed Prairie Dog
- Abert's Squirrel
- Uinta Chipmunk
- Uinta Ground Squirrel
- White-tailed Jackrabbit

 

[Najade]

Where did you see Paradise Riflebird? Has anyone seen any of the other species? I've tagged people who I think might have seen the rest of my list in the wild. @Najade @WhistlingKite24 @Hix @boof @Dannelboyz @MRJ and maybe a few others. Also has anyone seen Radjah Shelduck?

Other than the fish (never paid that much attention to them so don't know if I saw 'em or not) I've seen every species on your wild list (incl. the Shelduck). Compared to some other stuff out there none of them are really all that rare though.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

No it was in China.

When were you in China?

I was in China during the October half term holidays the year before last. My mother has a very packed schedule and had a meeting in China, so we went out to meet her and see a bit of Guangzhou with her.

Umm

Basically, it would be cool if everyone posted the countries they have been to and I will delete them from the list, and we will see how many countries we are left with. Perhaps we will even get all of them! (although I highly doubt it because countries like San Marino, Tuvalu and Kiribati exist )

Here are mine:
Canada
USA
UK
France
Germany
Switzerland
Austria
Spain
Italy
Vatican city
Belgium
Netherlands

Between us, have we been to every country in the world? 1 Oct 2019

I've already visited: Canada, USA, UK (where I live), France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Austria.
So I'd like to visit: Kenya, then India, then Russia (for the Amur leopards and tigers), then China and also Brazil.

If you could only visit 5 countries in your lifetime 17 Mar 2019

And you were in China in October 2018...?

Also why aren't Switzerland, Vatican City, Belgium, Netherlands, and Cyprus present on both lists?

~Thylo

 

[amur leopard]

If you could only visit 5 countries in your lifetime 17 Mar 2019

And you were in China in October 2018...?

Also why aren't Switzerland, Vatican City, Belgium, Netherlands, and Cyprus present on both lists?

China and Vatican city are easily forgettable because they were both really short visits (2 and 1 days respectively), and Cyprus I just had a mind blank. I've obviously been to the last two (I've posted photos in the gallery of them) and I can show you photos of China (although none of them are wildlife related since they were all taken by my parents. I have already talked to 2 people about this, and I know, it's just a result of clumsiness. Switzerland was largely because when I went I thought it was part of Germany so I forgot about it . I haven't actually been to the Netherlands or Belgium?

Between us, have we been to every country in the world? 1 Oct 2019