Help selecting animals for a Peruvian themed exhibit for an American zoo?

BenFoxster

BenFoxster

Well-Known Member
I need some help figuring out which species would be feasible to Peruvian themed area. The area would be split into two sections (Cloud forest and Andean mountains) At the top of my head I was thinking -
  • Spectacled Bear
  • Andean Condor
  • Guanaco
  • Mountain Lion
  • Giant Anteater
  • Baird's Tapir
  • Capybara
  • Crested Screamer
  • Chinchilla
  • Goeldi Monkey
  • Tamandua
  • Two-Toed Sloth
  • Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine
  • Six-Banded Armadillo
  • Chilean Flamingo
  • Tayra
  • Bushdog
  • Coatimundi
  • Spider Monkey
  • Capuchin
  • Maned Wolf
  • Jaguar
  • If we're being REALLY daring, then considering the Los Angeles' Zoo's previous success with Bald Uakari, and Louisville with Woolly Monkeys, then I would possibly even consider those as well (even if they would be extremely unlikely and difficult to manage)
  • I am also curious as to whether obtaining red howler monkeys would be feasible at all for an American zoo or not, perhaps importing from Europe?
I am curious as to whether the capuchins and spider monkeys often kept in American zoos are the same subspecies found in Peru, same thing with the flamingoes, porcupines, and coatimundis. In general if any of the species I listed aren't found in Peru or if there are any other interesting species I should consider, then please let me know.
 
In addition to the Tapir and Armadillo mentioned by @Great Argus, the Giant Anteater, Capybara, Screamer, Goeldi Monkey, and Bushdog are all lowland species and Chinchillas are endemic to Chile.

Regarding the monkeys, all three Peruvian species are in the US but none are being regularly kept or bred. The two common species (geoffroyi and fusciceps) are from farther north. Of the two common zoo capuchin species, tufted capuchin is found in Peru (if you are a taxonomic lumper), white-faced isn't. However, the actual most common cloud forest monkeys are Night Monkeys, which are available if you don't mind generics/hybrids.

Chilean flamingos do occur in Peruvian Altiplao and South American Coati are in the trade and do occur in cloud forest. Brazilian porcupines are more of a lowland species but the cloud forest endemic species aren't held anywhere as far as I know.

Other available/potentially available mammals from these habitats:
  • Nine-banded Armadillo
  • Kinkajou
  • Long-tailed Weasel
  • White-tailed Deer (wrong ssp obviously, but this is the most common large mammal in the N. Andes)
  • Lowland Paca (Mountain Paca or Pacarana would be better if they were available)
Among birds, the obvious missing species are

  • Andean Cock-of-the-rock
  • Golden-headed Quetzal.
These can be displayed in mixed aviaries with either a small "tanager" mix
  • Paradise Tanager
  • Silver-beaked Tanager
  • Blue-gray Tanager
  • Blue Dacnis
  • Red-capped Cardinal
  • Blue Ground Dove
  • various hummingbirds
or a larger "toucan" mix
  • Curl-crested Aracari
  • Green Jay
  • Amazonian Motmot
  • Crested Oropendola
  • Band-tailed Pigeon
Some common North American songbirds also occur in cloud forest in winter, particularly tanagers and warblers.

For puna/altiplano, there are also a fair number of common North American water birds such as
  • Blue-winged Teal
  • Cinnamon Teal
  • Common Gallinule
  • Black-crowned Night Heron
  • American Golden Plover
plus local high elevation species like
  • Puna Teal
  • Andean Goose
  • Lesser Rhea (available in Europe)
  • Aplomado Falcon
Among herps, there isn't much that would obviously fit for reptiles, though Eyelash Vipers make it into Peru. Among amphibians the most abundant and diverse Andean species are various Pristimantis and Phrynopus, which are not displayed anywhere. However, Titicaca Frogs are increasingly prevalent in zoos, and various South American Atelopus seem to enter the pet trade.
 
Chilean flamingo doesn´t show any subspecies or even genetic variation within its range. All birds you can find in North American zoos are "correct to use" for Peruvian exhibit even if close to 100% of captive birds originate from wild-caught imports from Argentina.
 
Food for thought: Peru has a rich diversity of reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrate species, of which several are, as mentioned by @Gondwana , popular both in zoos and the pet trade. And there are far more venomous snake species there than just B. schlegelii...;)
 
BenFoxster said:
I need some help figuring out which species would be feasible to Peruvian themed area. The area would be split into two sections (Cloud forest and Andean mountains) At the top of my head I was thinking -
  • Spectacled Bear
  • Andean Condor
  • Guanaco
  • Mountain Lion
  • Giant Anteater
  • Baird's Tapir
  • Capybara
  • Crested Screamer
  • Chinchilla
  • Goeldi Monkey
  • Tamandua
  • Two-Toed Sloth
  • Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine
  • Six-Banded Armadillo
  • Chilean Flamingo
  • Tayra
  • Bushdog
  • Coatimundi
  • Spider Monkey
  • Capuchin
  • Maned Wolf
  • Jaguar
  • If we're being REALLY daring, then considering the Los Angeles' Zoo's previous success with Bald Uakari, and Louisville with Woolly Monkeys, then I would possibly even consider those as well (even if they would be extremely unlikely and difficult to manage)
  • I am also curious as to whether obtaining red howler monkeys would be feasible at all for an American zoo or not, perhaps importing from Europe?
I am curious as to whether the capuchins and spider monkeys often kept in American zoos are the same subspecies found in Peru, same thing with the flamingoes, porcupines, and coatimundis. In general if any of the species I listed aren't found in Peru or if there are any other interesting species I should consider, then please let me know.
Click to expand...
Just saying but other interesting species that I know are from Peru are
the Pudu.
Agouti.
Ocelot.
Grey fox but just as a representative of the South American grey fox.
Viscacha.
Vicuña and the lake titicaca frog and the vicuña I know is kept in European zoos and the vicuña is the national animal of Peru and they along with the guanaco are the only wild camelids that live in the high alpine areas of the Andes mountains
And the viscacha is a rodent that is related to the chinchilla and the northern viscacha is from Peru and they occur between the tree and snow line and they resemble rabbits and they are so cute.
 
Gondwana said:
In addition to the Tapir and Armadillo mentioned by @Great Argus, the Giant Anteater, Capybara, Screamer, Goeldi Monkey, and Bushdog are all lowland species and Chinchillas are endemic to Chile.

Regarding the monkeys, all three Peruvian species are in the US but none are being regularly kept or bred. The two common species (geoffroyi and fusciceps) are from farther north. Of the two common zoo capuchin species, tufted capuchin is found in Peru (if you are a taxonomic lumper), white-faced isn't. However, the actual most common cloud forest monkeys are Night Monkeys, which are available if you don't mind generics/hybrids.

Chilean flamingos do occur in Peruvian Altiplao and South American Coati are in the trade and do occur in cloud forest. Brazilian porcupines are more of a lowland species but the cloud forest endemic species aren't held anywhere as far as I know.

Other available/potentially available mammals from these habitats:
  • Nine-banded Armadillo
  • Kinkajou
  • Long-tailed Weasel
  • White-tailed Deer (wrong ssp obviously, but this is the most common large mammal in the N. Andes)
  • Lowland Paca (Mountain Paca or Pacarana would be better if they were available)
Among birds, the obvious missing species are

  • Andean Cock-of-the-rock
  • Golden-headed Quetzal.
These can be displayed in mixed aviaries with either a small "tanager" mix
  • Paradise Tanager
  • Silver-beaked Tanager
  • Blue-gray Tanager
  • Blue Dacnis
  • Red-capped Cardinal
  • Blue Ground Dove
  • various hummingbirds
or a larger "toucan" mix
  • Curl-crested Aracari
  • Green Jay
  • Amazonian Motmot
  • Crested Oropendola
  • Band-tailed Pigeon
Some common North American songbirds also occur in cloud forest in winter, particularly tanagers and warblers.

For puna/altiplano, there are also a fair number of common North American water birds such as
  • Blue-winged Teal
  • Cinnamon Teal
  • Common Gallinule
  • Black-crowned Night Heron
  • American Golden Plover
plus local high elevation species like
  • Puna Teal
  • Andean Goose
  • Lesser Rhea (available in Europe)
  • Aplomado Falcon
Among herps, there isn't much that would obviously fit for reptiles, though Eyelash Vipers make it into Peru. Among amphibians the most abundant and diverse Andean species are various Pristimantis and Phrynopus, which are not displayed anywhere. However, Titicaca Frogs are increasingly prevalent in zoos, and various South American Atelopus seem to enter the pet trade.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much, this is exactly the info I was looking for! Thanks especially for letting me know which birds are from the Andes and ideas for mixed species exhibits!
 
Tigeanderson said:
Just saying but other interesting species that I know are from Peru are
the Pudu.
Agouti.
Ocelot.
Grey fox but just as a representative of the South American grey fox.
Viscacha.
Vicuña and the lake titicaca frog and the vicuña I know is kept in European zoos and the vicuña is the national animal of Peru and they along with the guanaco are the only wild camelids that live in the high alpine areas of the Andes mountains
And the viscacha is a rodent that is related to the chinchilla and the northern viscacha is from Peru and they occur between the tree and snow line and they resemble rabbits and they are so cute.
Click to expand...
Visacha rabbits are very cute! I'm just not sure if they're displayed anywhere outside South America. My bad about the chinchilla. Ocelot was one i was already thinking of but I forgot to list it! Thanks for the ideas a lot of great ones here.
 
BenFoxster said:
Visacha rabbits are very cute! I'm just not sure if they're displayed anywhere outside South America. My bad about the chinchilla. Ocelot was one i was already thinking of but I forgot to list it! Thanks for the ideas a lot of great ones here.
Click to expand...
Your very welcome and just saying but with the Pudu I know that they are found in North American zoos.
 
As late as the 1950s, there was belief in a separate species of mountain dwelling canid closely related to the maned wolf called the Andean wolf. A single skin was used as evidence - very much like a maned wolf, but much shaggier. Its existence was never proved, and it is now considered to have been an aberrant maned wolf
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top