Does anyone know when this building opened to the public?
An excerpt from my 2011 review:
Reptile House – There are quite a few unusual species in the 37 exhibits within this building, although there is potential for many more terrariums as there were a number of empty, blacked-out enclosures that could easily boost that number. Amongst the 41 species are many constricting snakes and surprisingly very few venomous animals. Species list: Bengal monitor, emperor flat rock lizard, Chinese crocodile lizard, collared lizard, rainbow sand lizard, spiny-tailed lizard, green crested basilisk, prehensile-tailed skink, gila monster, club-tailed iguana, Honduran club-tailed iguana, standing’s day gecko, Bibron’s gecko, Puerto Rican boa, red-tailed boa constrictor, rainbow boa, rubber boa, ball python, green tree python, carpet python, giant garter snake, Taylor’s cantil, northern Pacific rattlesnake, sidewinder rattlesnake, gopher snake, flat-tailed tortoise, African pancake tortoise, western pond turtle, aquatic caecilian, axolotl, California tiger salamander, California newt, marine toad, Colorado river toad, fire bellied toad, legless lizard, West African dwarf crocodile, White’s tree frog, green tree frog, northern red-legged frog and poison dart frogs (assorted species in 2 exhibits).
There are 34 exhibits that range in size from tiny tanks to average-sized terrariums that are found at many zoos. However, there are 3 large exhibits with these species: red-tailed boa constrictor; West African dwarf crocodile in a much too small enclosure; and a carpet python/green tree python/White’s tree frog exhibit.
The building was completed in 1970. I agree that the dwarf crocodile exhibit is small; however the San Diego Zoo's dwarf crocodile exhibit which is about 35 years newer than Sacramento's (the exhibit space I mean) is roughly the same size. Apparently AZA husbandry guidelines for this species don't call for much room. Curious.
