2024 – new year, new challenge, same game.
With zoos playing such a big role these days in wildlife conservation and educating the public about the natural world, I decided this year’s challenge would focus on a group of animals that are instrumental to the proper functioning of every ecosystem. Sometimes they are cute and cuddly, sometimes they are alien and feared… but each one is an equally vital piece of the puzzle, and so will equally count for this year’s challenge: Apex Predators.
So what counts as an “apex predator”? Broadly, they are carnivores at the top of their food chain; for the sake of simplicity in this challenge, though, I have based eligible species on a handful of groups that are comprised largely or primarily of apex predators – so it’s not the most exact lineup, but it will be easy to remember I hope. This will also be a multiclass challenge, so we’re breaking out of the taxonomic mold yet again. Here is what can be counted this year:
MAMMALS
Felidae (cats)
Canidae (dogs and foxes)
Ursidae (bears)
Hyaenidae (hyenas)
An additional species you can count is Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), the apex predator of Madagascar. Also: as an exception to the IUCN taxonomy and domestic rules (mentioned in the rules further down), Dingo/New Guinea Singing Dog can be counted this year as a single species, Canis familiaris.
BIRDS
Any and all raptors! Taxonomically that will be:
Accipitriformes (hawks, eagles, Old World vultures, secretarybird, etc.)
Cathartiformes (New World vultures)
Falconiformes (falcons)
Strigiformes (owls)
An additional species that will count is Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata), a cousin to the extinct terror birds.
REPTILES
Any and all crocodilians (Order Crocodilia). Also, Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) – which will now have counted for 3 North America challenges in a row. You go, Komodo!
FISHES
As the apex predators of the oceans, we will also count sharks (clade Selachimorpha).
Before we get to the rules, a quick shoutout to @Shorts for providing us the genesis and template of these games.
The Rules
1. You have to actually see the animal, even if just for a second.
2. Photographic proof is not required; your word is your bond.
3. All entries must be in a numbered list and include the following: the species you’re counting, the day you saw it and the zoo you saw it at.
4. All animals must be seen in captivity in North America (Canada, the United States, or Mexico); in a public zoological collection (no farms, expos, pet stores, private or exclusive facilities); and via normal public access during normal public opening hours (no behind-the-scenes or VIP tours, exclusive events, etc.).
5. Report your progress on this thread as you go along; do not leave all your updates until the last minute. If you post several months’ worth of updates in the final days of December, I reserve the right to not count them. This is to ensure fairness and transparency for everyone.
6. The taxonomy source we will be using is IUCN. Our unit is species, not subspecies.
7. Hybrid animals and domestic animals do not count unless an exception is made.
8. Violating the rules or participating in unsportsmanlike conduct is grounds for disqualification from this year’s competition and/or from future North America challenges.
9. The winner will be whoever sees the most apex predator species between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
The deadline system from this past year is still in place, though I’ve extended the deadline by a month:
There is no official deadline to join; however, anyone who joins the game after May 31 can only count eligible species from their two most recent zoo visits.
And with that, the challenge begins tomorrow… who’s ready to find some predators?
With zoos playing such a big role these days in wildlife conservation and educating the public about the natural world, I decided this year’s challenge would focus on a group of animals that are instrumental to the proper functioning of every ecosystem. Sometimes they are cute and cuddly, sometimes they are alien and feared… but each one is an equally vital piece of the puzzle, and so will equally count for this year’s challenge: Apex Predators.
So what counts as an “apex predator”? Broadly, they are carnivores at the top of their food chain; for the sake of simplicity in this challenge, though, I have based eligible species on a handful of groups that are comprised largely or primarily of apex predators – so it’s not the most exact lineup, but it will be easy to remember I hope. This will also be a multiclass challenge, so we’re breaking out of the taxonomic mold yet again. Here is what can be counted this year:
MAMMALS
Felidae (cats)
Canidae (dogs and foxes)
Ursidae (bears)
Hyaenidae (hyenas)
An additional species you can count is Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), the apex predator of Madagascar. Also: as an exception to the IUCN taxonomy and domestic rules (mentioned in the rules further down), Dingo/New Guinea Singing Dog can be counted this year as a single species, Canis familiaris.
BIRDS
Any and all raptors! Taxonomically that will be:
Accipitriformes (hawks, eagles, Old World vultures, secretarybird, etc.)
Cathartiformes (New World vultures)
Falconiformes (falcons)
Strigiformes (owls)
An additional species that will count is Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata), a cousin to the extinct terror birds.
REPTILES
Any and all crocodilians (Order Crocodilia). Also, Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) – which will now have counted for 3 North America challenges in a row. You go, Komodo!
FISHES
As the apex predators of the oceans, we will also count sharks (clade Selachimorpha).
Before we get to the rules, a quick shoutout to @Shorts for providing us the genesis and template of these games.
The Rules
1. You have to actually see the animal, even if just for a second.
2. Photographic proof is not required; your word is your bond.
3. All entries must be in a numbered list and include the following: the species you’re counting, the day you saw it and the zoo you saw it at.
4. All animals must be seen in captivity in North America (Canada, the United States, or Mexico); in a public zoological collection (no farms, expos, pet stores, private or exclusive facilities); and via normal public access during normal public opening hours (no behind-the-scenes or VIP tours, exclusive events, etc.).
5. Report your progress on this thread as you go along; do not leave all your updates until the last minute. If you post several months’ worth of updates in the final days of December, I reserve the right to not count them. This is to ensure fairness and transparency for everyone.
6. The taxonomy source we will be using is IUCN. Our unit is species, not subspecies.
7. Hybrid animals and domestic animals do not count unless an exception is made.
8. Violating the rules or participating in unsportsmanlike conduct is grounds for disqualification from this year’s competition and/or from future North America challenges.
9. The winner will be whoever sees the most apex predator species between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
The deadline system from this past year is still in place, though I’ve extended the deadline by a month:
There is no official deadline to join; however, anyone who joins the game after May 31 can only count eligible species from their two most recent zoo visits.
And with that, the challenge begins tomorrow… who’s ready to find some predators?
