Do cetaceans count? I confess I've lost touch with this thread but they weren't included at the start of January.
Ah, good catch there. Not sure why I included them, but my guess is I got messed up with NA one.
My total is actually 239.
Do cetaceans count? I confess I've lost touch with this thread but they weren't included at the start of January.
Kobe Animal Kingdom (Kobe, Japan): (03 March)
120) Sand Cat Felis magarita
121) Binturong Arctictis binturong
122) Serval Leptailurus serval
123) Bush Dog Speothos venaticus
124) Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus
125) Puma Puma concolor
126) Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
127) American Black Bear Ursus americanus
128) Verreaux's Eagle Owl Bubo lacteus
129) Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica
130) Smooth-fronted Caiman Paleosuchus trigonatus
A productive Sunday afternoon trip up to LA to see the new Cape vulture aviaryFirst repeat zoo visit of the year!
San Diego Zoo (San Diego, CA) - 03 March 2025:
Carnivora:101. Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
102. Caracal (Caracal caracal)
103. Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
104. South American coati (Nasua nasua)
Serpentes:105. Black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus)
106. Many-horned adder (Bitis cornuta)
107. Red diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber)
108. South American bushmaster (Lachesis muta)
109. Speckled rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii)
TOTAL: 109 Species
Sunshine Aquarium (Tokyo, Japan): (11 March)Tama Zoo (Tokyo, Japan): (09 March)
131) Japanese Weasel Mustela itatsi
132) Snow Leopard Panthera uncia
133) Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus
134) Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
135) Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Happy new year ZooChat!! I apologize for the delay in posting this year’s challenge, especially to those waiting in the more Eastern time zones.
This year’s challenge? Predators. The fearsome hunters which dominate the food chains of the earth, seas, and skies. They have razor sharp talons, teeth, and claws— perfect for swiftly bringing demise to any poor unfortunate prey. Of course, I couldn’t make the challenge so large as to include every predatory species out there, so the eligible taxonomic groups are as follows:
Mammals-
Birds-
- Order Carnivora (Carnivores)
Reptiles-
- Order Accipitriformes (Birds of prey)
- Order Strigiformes (Owls)
- Order Falconiformes (Falcons)
Fish-
- Suborder Serpentes (Snakes)
- Order Crocodylia (Crocodilians)
I’m assuming that snakes will be the bulk of many peoples submissions, but throwing in a few more groups for good measure might be a deciding factor in the end
- Order Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
- Order Heterodontiformes (Bullhead sharks)
- Order Hexanchiformes (Cow and frilled sharks)
- Order Lamniformes (Mackerel sharks)
- Order Orectolobiformes (Carpet sharks)
- Order Pristiophoriformes (Sawsharks)
- Order Squaliformes (Dogfish sharks)
- Order Squatiniformes (Angel sharks)
.
Rules are as follows:
1. You have to actually see the animal, even if just for a second. You don't score if you visit a collection but don't see the animal (harsh, but fair);
2. Proof via photographs is not required, your word is your bond;
3. All entries must be presented in numbered list form, with scientific names encouraged (simply to make it easier to keep track of and to avoid uncountable species being slipped in due to vagueness). Obviously, species do not need Latin names included, but this is not an avenue to slip in inadmissible species with vagueness. Please also provide updates in a legible, numerical order. See how @Kudu21 or @CGSwans provided updates throughout the year for some guiding examples;
4. You have to see the animal via normal public access (zookeeper for the day or photography days behind the scenes do not count) during normal public opening hours (i.e. no scoring because you know the keeper and can get access before/after hours). Basically, the species has to be seen as Joe Public would;
5. Any severely limited opening or private collections don't count for this challenge. Controversial yes, but see the previous point and it isn't fair to include a handful of days these collections might be open to the public as this might logistically disadvantage a large number of people;
6. Only public zoological collections, museums, public park displays, etc. count, animals seen at farms or pet stores do not count;
7. Report/update your progress on this thread as you go along. There is no official deadline to join; however, please try to update within a timely manner. Long, sudden entries submitted at the very end of the year may be subject to disqualification under my discretion. In other words, I see how poorly this rule was perceived last year, and thus it is gone, but I will reserve the privilege to bar someone in the unlikely case they dump their entire year’s worth of visits into one update on December 29th, for example;
8. Where open-ended challenges are concerned, only one subspecies per species can be counted;
9. Controversial entries due to splits will be discussed on a case-by-case basis
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;
11. Hybrid animals do not count;
12. Wild animals do not count, all species must be seen in captivity under all the conditions listed above;
13. Anyone caught severely violating any of the above rules and/or participating in extremely unsportsmanlike conduct on or even off the forum is subject to disqualification (these are made for fun, by all means, take them seriously but please do not ruin the fun for anyone else. I do not expect to have any problems, but I've added this in just in case);
14. Any issues with any of the above rules are open to discussion but the rules are set and any decisions made are final;
15. Apart from the unlikely event that someone gets to see all the species potentially viewable by 12/31/24, the winner will be deemed to be the person who's seen the most on that date.
If any aspects of this year’s challenge potentially need to be changed, updates will be posted within the week.
Alright, that’s enough from me. Enjoy the hunt, and have a wonderful new year!!
Thanks,It was mentioned earlier that they wouldn’t count. This is mainly focusing on groups of vertebrates that eat other vertebrates
#1 Penang Bird Park <Penang, Malaysia> (January 4th, 2025)
<Birds>
1. Barred Eagle-owl (Bubo sumatranus)
2. Buffy fish-owl (Ketupa ketupu)
3. Spotted wood owl (Strix seloputo)
4. Oriental Bay Owl (Phodilus badius)
5. Common Barn owl (Tyto alba)
6. Collared scops owl (Otus lettia)
7. Reddish scops-owl (Otus rufescens)
8. Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus)
9. White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
<Reptiles>
10. Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
11. Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus)
#2 Lost World of Tambun <Perak, Malaysia> (January 5th, 2025)
<Mammals>
12. Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
13. Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea)
14. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
15. Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus)
16. Binturong (Arctictis binturong)
<Reptiles>
17. Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus)
18. Wagler's temple pitviper (Tropidolaemus wagleri)
19. Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma)
20. King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
21. Mangrove snake (Boiga dendrophila)
22. Cave beauty snake (Elaphe taeniura ridleyi)
23. Burmese python (Python bivittatus)
#3 Taipei Zoo <Taipei, Taiwan> (January 9th, 2025)
- Did not visit some areas
24. Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
25. Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
26. Taiwan black bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus)
27. Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni)
28. Leopard (Panthera pardus)
29. Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
30. Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
31. Kinkajou (Potos flavus)
32. South american coati (Nasua nasua)
#4 Leofoo Village <Hsinchu, Taiwan> (January 10th, 2025)
33. Lion (Panthera leo)
#5 Jojo Zoo Park <Nantou, Taiwan> (January 11th, 2025)
34. Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
Seen but not counted:
Hawk eagle sp.
- will count after species identification
#6 Pushin Ranch <Taoyuan, Taiwan> (January 12th, 2025)
35. California kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
#7 Yilan Animal Kingdom <Yilan, Taiwan> (January 13th, 2025)
36. Red kite (Milvus milvus)
37. Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
38. Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)
39. Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
#8 Green World Ecological Farm <Hsinchu, Taiwan> (January 14th, 2025)
40. Ball python (Python regius)
#5Jojo Zoo Park <Nantou, Taiwan> (January 11th, 2025)
41. Changeable hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus)
- Adding in this species since it was confirmed
#9 Zoo Taiping <Perak, Malaysia> (January 18th, 2025)
<Mammals>
42. Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii)
43. Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
44. Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda)
45. Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
46. Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)
47. Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
<Reptiles>
48. Boa (Boa constrictor)
49. Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus)
50. Red-tailed ratsnake (Gonyosoma oxycephalum)
51. Monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia)
52. Oriental whip snake (Ahaetulla prasina)
53. False gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii)
#8 Green World Ecological Farm <Hsinchu, Taiwan> (January 14th, 2025)
54. Common anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
- Adding in missed out species
#10 Perlis Snake Park <Perlis, Malaysia> (January 30th, 2025)
55. Savu python (Liasis mackloti savuensis)
56. Equatorial spitting cobra (Naja sumatrana)
57. Radiated rat snake (Coelognathus radiatus)
58. Oriental rat snake (Ptyas mucosa)
59. Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus)
60. Banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus)
61. Green cat snake (Boiga cyanea)
62. Dog toothed cat snake (Boiga cynodon)
#11 The Wanz Animal Park <Kedah, Malaysia> (February 8th, 2025)
63. Raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)
64. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
65. Common genet (Genetta genetta)
TOTAL: 65 Species
The eligible species and the rules are all in the first post of the thread.
Nice little walk around Shepreth today, lovely weather - couple of no-shows but hopefully I'll see the cloudies and the Maned wolves next time.
1. Asian small-clawed otter, Aonyx cinerea
2. Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx
3. Tiger, Panthera tigris
4. Pardine genet, Genetta pardina
5. Red panda, Ailurus fulgens
6. South American coati, Nasua nasua
7. White nosed coati, Nasua narica
8. European wildcat, Felis silvestris
9. Great grey owl, Strix nebulosa
10. Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus
11. Bengal eagle owl, Bubo bengalensis
12. Northern white faced scops owl, Ptilopsis leucotis
13. Striated caracara, Phalcoboenus australis
14. Carpet python, Morelia spilota
15. Rhinoceros ratsnake, Gonyosoma boulengeri
Rainforest Wild Asia, 15/3Night Safari, 27/2
1. Tiger (Panthera tigris)
2. Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
3. Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)
4. Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
5. Binturong (Arctictis binturong)
6. Asian Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus)
7. Greater Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris)
8. Leopard (Panthera pardus)
9. Small-toothed Palm Civet (Arctogalidia trivirgata)
10. Masked Palm Civet (Paguma larvata)
11. Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus)
12. Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
13. Lion (Panthera leo)
14. Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
15. Australian Boobook (Ninox boobook)
16. Northern White-faced Owl (Ptilopsis leucotis)
17. Collared Owlet (Glaucidium brodiei)
18. Spotted Wood Owl (Strix seloputo)
19. Buffy Fish Owl (Ketupa ketupu)
20. Common Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
21. Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
I accidentally skipped this one - at Saitama Childrens Zoo:Sunshine Aquarium (Tokyo, Japan): (11 March)
136) Baikal Seal Pusa sibirica
Saitama Childrens Zoo (Tokyo, Japan): (12 March)
137) Texas Rat Snake Pantherophis obsoletus
Manitowoc Lincoln Park Zoo - March 8 2025Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary - March 1 2025
15. American Barn Owl Tyto furcata
16. Cooper's Hawk Astur cooperii
17. Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus
18. Barred Owl Strix varia
19. Great Horned Owl Bubo virginiana
20. Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
21. Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus
22. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
23. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Just finished my two week trip to Hong Kong and Japan! Here's the updates:
#12 Hong Kong Ocean Park <Hong Kong> (February 27th & March 12th, 2025)
<Mammals>
66. Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
67. Spotted seal (Phoca largha)
68. Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina)
69. California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)
70. Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)
71. Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)
<Birds>
72. Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo)
73. Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)
<Fishes>
74. Scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini)
75. Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
76. Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus)
77. Sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus)
78. Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
79. White spotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum)
80. Brown banded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum)
81. Grey bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium griseum)
82. Zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)
83. Tawny Nurse Shark (Nebrius ferrugineus)
84. Epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)
85. Spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus)
<Reptiles>
86. Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)
87. Emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus)
#13 Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium <Aichi, Japan> (March 1st, 2025)
<Fishes>
88. Copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus)
89. Japanese sawshark (Pristiophorus japonicus)
90. Japanese bullhead shark (Heterodontus japonicus)
91. Cloudy catshark (Scyliorhinus torazame)
92. Japanese swellshark (Cephaloscyllium umbratile)
93. Clouded angelshark (Squatina nebulosa)
#14 Ise Sea Paradise <Mie, Japan> (March 4th, 2025)
<Mammals>
94. African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis)
95. Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
#15 Toba Aquarium <Mie, Japan> (March 4th, 2025)
<Mammals>
96. Northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni)
97. South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens)
98. Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
99. Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica)
100. South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus)
101. Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
<Reptiles>
102. American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
103. Green tree python (Morelia viridis)
104. Amazon tree Boa (Corallus hortulanus)
105. Puff-faced water snake (Homalopsis buccata)
<Fishes>
106. Mandarin dogfish (Cirrhigaleus barbifer)
107. Banded houndshark (Triakis scyllium)
108. Japanese angelshark (Squatina japonica)
#16 Higashiyama Zoological and Botanical Gardens <Aichi, Japan> (March 5th, 2025)
<Mammals>
109. Honey badger (Mellivora capensis)
110. Bush dog (Speothos venaticus)
111. Eastern wolf (Canis lupus Lycaon)
112. Jaguar (Panthera onca)
113. Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)
114. Sand cat (Felis margarita)
115. Jungle cat (Felis chaus)
116. Ussuri brown bear (Ursus arctos lasiotus)
117. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
118. Small Indian civet (Viverricula indica)
119. Cape genet (Genetta tigrina)
<Birds>
120. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
121. Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)
122. Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)
123. Black vulture (Coragyps atratus)
<Reptiles>
124. Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
125. Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
126. Japanese striped snake (Elaphe quadrivirgata)
127. Loo-choo big-tooth snake (Lycodon semicarinatus)
128. East African sand boa (Eryx colubrinus)
129. Carpet python Morelia spilota)
130. Brown rainbow boa (Epicrates maurus)
131. Chicken snake (Spilotes pullatus)
#17 Moff LaLaport Aichi Togo <Aichi, Japan> (March 5th, 2025)
<Birds>
132. Brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica)
133. Bengal eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis)
134. Mottled owl (Strix virgata)
135. Pallid scops owl (Otus brucei)
#18 Kakegawa Kachouen <Shizuoka, Japan> (March 6th, 2025)
<Birds>
136. Secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius)
137. Striated caracara (Phalcoboenus australis)
138. Lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus)
139. African pygmy falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus)
140. Ferruginous pygmy owl (Glaucidium brasilianum)
141. Indian scops owl (Otus bakkamoena)
142. Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia)
143. Northern white-faced owl (Ptilopsis leucotis)
144. Tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba)
145. Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio)
146. Striped owl (Asio clamator)
147. African wood owl (Strix woodfordii)
148. Tawny owl (Strix aluco)
149. Chaco owl (Strix chacoensis)
150. Spectacled owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
151. Verreaux's eagle-owl (Ketupa lactea)
152. Spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus)
153. Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus)
#19 Ueno Zoological Gardens <Tokyo, Japan> (March 7th, 2025)
<Mammals>
154. Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra)
155. Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul)
156. Masked palm civet (Paguma larvata)
157. Common dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula)
<Birds>
158. Japanese scops-owl (Otus semitorques)
159. Ural owl (Strix uralensis)
160. Mountain hawk-eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis)
161. Steller's sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)
162. White-backed vulture (Gyps africanus)
<Reptiles>
163. Western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus)
164. Mamushi (Gloydius blomhoffii)
165. Japanese forest ratsnake (Euprepiophis conspicillata)
166. Japanese rat snake (Elaphe climacophora)
#20 Nogeyama Zoological Gardens <Kanagawa, Japan> (March 8th, 2025)
<Mammals>
167. Japanese marten (Martes melampus)
<Birds>
168. Japanese buzzard (Buteo japonicus)
<Reptiles>
169. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
#21 Kawasaki Aquarium <Kanagawa, Japan> (March 8th, 2025)
<Reptiles>
170. Papuan python (Apodora papuana)
#22 Aqua Park Shinagawa <Tokyo, Japan> (March 11th, 2025)
<Mammals>
171. South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis)
<Fishes>
172. Hasselt's bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium hasseltii)
Total: 172 species
Reptilandia Reptile Lagoon (2/17/25)
84. Banded Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata)
85. Saltmarsh Snake (Nerodia clarkii)
86. Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)
87. Western Black Tree Snake (Thrasops occidentalis)
88. Green Bush Rat Snake (Gonyosoma prasinum)
89. Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais)
90. Ladder Snake (Zamenis scalaris)
91. Smith's African Water Snake (Grayia smithii)
92. Cape Coral Snake (Aspidelaps lubricus)
93. Western Gaboon Viper (Bitis rhinoceros)
94. Central American Jumping Pit Viper (Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus)
95. Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
96. Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus)
97. Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus)
98. Basilisk Rattlesnake (Crotalus basiliscus)
99. Wagler's Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri)
100. White-lipped Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris)
101. Western Massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus)
102. South American Bushmaster (Lachesis muta)
103. Dumeril's Boa (Acrantophis dumerili)
104. Dormilona (Corallus ruschenbergerii)
105. Ringed Tree Boa (Corallus annulatus)
106. Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor)
107. Central American Boa (Boa imperator)
108. Bahamian Boa (Chilabothrus strigilatus)
109. Cuban Tree Boa (Chilabothrus angulifer)
110. Jamaican Boa (Chilabothrus subflavus)
111. New Guinea Ground Boa (Candoia aspera)
112. Woma Python (Aspidites ramsayi)
113. Malaysian Blood Python (Python brongersmai)
114. Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus)
115. Amethyst Python (Simalia amethistina)
116. Boelen's Python (Simalia boeleni)