ZooChat Challenge Global 2023 - 10th Anniversary Special!

1) Are you sure it's a Mexican prehensile-tailed porcupine you saw at Animal Adventures?
2) You're still listing "Blue Poison Dart Frog" on your list, this is not a valid species.
3) What do you mean by "side-necked turtle"?

1. Yes. With the yellow and everything.
2. I took it off on my spreadsheet as I said previously. Won’t happen again.
3. That’s just what it was signed as. I’ll do some digging for specific species.
 
I do. Some North American Porcupines are yellowish, too. That's clearly not even a Coendou species at all. The shape, tail and quill type are all wrong, and coendous don't have all that fur.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachme...0884/810781AC-7601-4A14-89E4-4B41F030F4F4.jpg


810781AC-7601-4A14-89E4-4B41F030F4F4.jpg
 
Yeah, compare to:
35410.jpg
Yea I don’t think using a single picture to counter Leaf’s claim will work when

1) The hairiness of this species seem to vary

upload_2023-2-22_19-57-16.jpeg

2) You could see a big pink nose in the porcupine in Leaf’s picture that is more similar to a prehensile tailed porcupine species than a North American porcupine.
 

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People really don’t have better things to do so they dispute a porcupine lol
That is not at all what is happening here and is a very rude and untrue allegation. Coendu species (other than C. prehensilis) are rare in captivity, and commonly misidentified by both visitors and zoo signage. There is very good reason to dispute a little roadside zoo having C. mexicanus. It isn't impossible but it is very improbable. I agree the second photo posted by Leaf Productions is more convincing that the one from Facebook (which is definitely just an NA Porcupine), but I still remain unconvinced as to the animal's true identify. I have seen yellowish coloration is both C. prehensilis and Erethizon dorsatum before.
 
I don't think AA obtaining a Mexican hairy procupine is unreasonable.
I would agree, but we should still tread lightly here. I don't think Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine has even been confirmed to be on public display anywhere in the US at all.
 
Toronto Zoo: 21 January 2023
Penguimonium (5 penguins):
5. African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)

Fly The Coop (2/11):
1. Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
2. Malay crested fireback (Lophura ignita)

We're Gonna Need a Bigger Trap (3/10):
2. Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
3. South African crested porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)

How Many Toes Am I Holding Up? (2/9):
1. Przewalski's horse (Equus (ferus) przewalskii)
2. Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)

Let That Ruminate (5/11 required, 2 bovids):
Required:
1. North Sulawesi babirusa (Babyroussa celebensis)
2. Red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus)
3. Pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)
4. Masai giraffe (Giraffa (camelopardalis) tippelskirchi)
5. Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)
Bovids:
1. Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)
2. West Caucasian tur (Capra caucasica)
Plus European mouflon which I won't be counting.

Check Your Feeders (2/4):
2. Loggerhead shrike (Landius ludovicianus)

Thylo's Top 20 (1/8):
1. Plush-crested jay (Cyanocorax chrysops)

Small but Will Fight (3/10):
2. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
3. Red panda (Aliurus fulgens)

Let's Give This Another Go (1 marsupials/monotremes):
1. Southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons)

Don't Turn On The Lights (5/10):
4. Prehensile-tailed skink (Corucia zebra)
5. Australian green tree frog (Ranoidea caerulea)

Embrace the ABCs Challenge (6/36):
1. Indian peafowl (Toronto)
2. Western lowland gorilla (Toronto)
3. Lion (Toronto)
4. Tiger (Toronto)
5. Meerkat (Toronto)
6. African penguin (Toronto)

Second Chance Red List Challenge (12/14):
VU 2: Steller's sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)
VU 3: North Sulawesi babirusa (Babyroussa celebensis)
VU 4: San Esteban chuckwalla (Sauromalus varius)
EN 3: American eel (Anguilla rostrata)
EN 4: Pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)
CR 1: Butterfly goodeid (Ameca splendens)
CR 2: Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
CR 3: Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
CR 4: Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Island Hoppers Challenge (13/22):
2. Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)
3. North Sulawesi babirusa (Babyroussa celebensis)
4. Luzon bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba luzonica)
5. Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria)
6. Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica)
7. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
8. Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
9. Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
10. Spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides)
11. Fijian banded iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus)
12. Prehensile-tailed skink (Corucia zebra)
13. Puerto Rican crested toad (Peltophryne lemur)
Plus a few fish native to Madagascar I forgot to ID.

I'm Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) (12/24 required, 14 chelonians):
Required:
1. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
2. Black tree monitor (Varanus beccarii)
3. Central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)
4. Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
5. Massasagua (Sistrurus catenatus)
6. Monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia)
7. Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica)
8. Green tree python (Morelia viridis)
9. Boelen's python (Simalia boeleni)
10. Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus)
11. Sunda gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii)
12. Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
Chelonians:
2. Snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
3. Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis)
4. Pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)
5. Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
6. Nile softshell turtle (Trionyx triunguis)
7. Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
8. Spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides)
9. Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis)
10. Asian brown tortoise (Manouria emys)
11. Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota)
12. Black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda spengleri)
13. Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)
14. Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)

Usborne's Scavenger Hunt Challenge (13/15):
3. Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)
4. Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
5. Pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)
6. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
7. Grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum)
8. Spectacled owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
9. Great hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
10. Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
11. Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor (ssp. constrictor and ortonii))
12. Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
13. American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

The Unbearable Challenge (1/8):
1. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

Hall of Champions (1/10):
1. Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
Toronto Zoo: 22 February 2023
Don't Turn On The Lights (6/10):
6. Solomon Island leaf frog (Cornufer guentheri)

Native Species Challenge (1/5):
1. Panamanian golden toad (Atelopus zeteki)

Island Hoppers Challenge (18/22):
14. Pheasant pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis)
15. Solomon Island leaf frog (Cornufer guentheri)
16. Golden mantella (Mantella aurantiaca)
17. Mangarahara cichlid (Ptychochromis insolitus)
18. Arnoult's panchax (Pachypanchax arnoulti)

I'm Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) (13/24 required; 17 chelonians):
13. Eyelash pit viper (Bothriechiis schlegelii)
Chelonians:
15. Red-bellied short-necked turtle (Emydura subglobosa)
16. Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
17. Spiny turtle (Heosemys spinosa)

Bona Fide Rarity Hunter (2/3):
2. Arnoult's panchax (Pachypanchax arnoulti)
Turns out Toronto's Fijian iguanas are B.fasciatus instead of B.bulabula. Also managed to ID the unknown Malagasy fish, both of which are actually very rare in North American zoos.
 
Toronto Zoo: 22 February 2023
Don't Turn On The Lights (6/10):
6. Solomon Island leaf frog (Cornufer guentheri)

Native Species Challenge (1/5):
1. Panamanian golden toad (Atelopus zeteki)

Island Hoppers Challenge (18/22):
14. Pheasant pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis)
15. Solomon Island leaf frog (Cornufer guentheri)
16. Golden mantella (Mantella aurantiaca)
17. Mangarahara cichlid (Ptychochromis insolitus)
18. Arnoult's panchax (Pachypanchax arnoulti)

I'm Hot Blooded (For Cold Blood) (13/24 required; 17 chelonians):
13. Eyelash pit viper (Bothriechiis schlegelii)
Chelonians:
15. Red-bellied short-necked turtle (Emydura subglobosa)
16. Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
17. Spiny turtle (Heosemys spinosa)

Bona Fide Rarity Hunter (2/3):
2. Arnoult's panchax (Pachypanchax arnoulti)
Turns out Toronto's Fijian iguanas are B.fasciatus instead of B.bulabula. Also managed to ID the unknown Malagasy fish, both of which are actually very rare in North American zoos.
Where in Toronto are these Malagasy fish? Is there a Madagascar Tank in the African Rainforest, or are they somewhere else?
 
I would agree, but we should still tread lightly here. I don't think Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine has even been confirmed to be on public display anywhere in the US at all.
It's clear I've struck a bone with you, and for that you have my utmost apologies. On my next go-around, I will ensure myself to remove said Mexican Porcupine and replace it with another type of Rodent. Sincerest apologies.
 
It's clear I've struck a bone with you, and for that you have my utmost apologies. On my next go-around, I will ensure myself to remove said Mexican Porcupine and replace it with another type of Rodent. Sincerest apologies.
You have not "struck a bone with me" in any way. I'm just trying to make sure this animal was correctly identified, using the evidence we have.
 
3. That’s just what it was signed as. I’ll do some digging for specific species

Just to back up what Leaf said, here's a picture of the porcupine in question.

Animal Adventures

That's just a North American Porcupine.

That is not at all what is happening here and is a very rude and untrue allegation. Coendu species (other than C. prehensilis) are rare in captivity, and commonly misidentified by both visitors and zoo signage. There is very good reason to dispute a little roadside zoo having C. mexicanus. It isn't impossible but it is very improbable. I agree the second photo posted by Leaf Productions is more convincing that the one from Facebook (which is definitely just an NA Porcupine), but I still remain unconvinced as to the animal's true identify. I have seen yellowish coloration is both C. prehensilis and Erethizon dorsatum before.

Alright, alright everybody settle down. The photo linked by @Smaggledagle does indeed look a lot like a North American Porcupine - however in digging their Facebook page I found the same photo zoomed out a bit farther showing a long tail, so it certainly is a Coendou. The photo linked by @Leaf Productions is very visibly a Coendou.
Thumbing through AA's Facebook page there are also photos of C. prehensilis and North American Porcupine. To me the animal looks like Mexican Hairy, I've never seen a prehensilis with that much fuzz.

I would agree, but we should still tread lightly here. I don't think Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine has even been confirmed to be on public display anywhere in the US at all.

This appears to be a Mexican Hairy, and it is in fact not the only one in the US currently I believe. The species has been not uncommon in US facilities in the recent past and I have seen the species here. While the questioning it is not unreasonable, Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine is present in tiny numbers and the animal in question here appears to be one.
 
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