Phoenix Zoo Phoenix Zoo Species List 2024

[CMP]

With the spread of ZTL worldwide, species lists like these may be on the way out. I thought I'd still share a list of what I saw signed at Phoenix Zoo, on Monday, January 8th, 2024. I left out unsigned species (Sand cats, for example). A majority of no-shows (SNS) can probably be attributed to the chillier-than-average temperatures (40-50 degrees F)

Ticketing entrance

1. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)​

New upcharge stingray touch tank

1. Cownose ray, southern stingray​

Arizona Trail
Free flight

1. Black Vulture, Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), Green-winged

Teal (Anas crecca), White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica), Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), White-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata), Black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) (SNS), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)​

Open rocky enclosure with a Snowy Egret looking for lizards sitting in it

2. Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura conspicuousa x C. hemilopha macrolopha),

Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai), Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister), Tiger Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris), Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis), Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) (SNS)​

Large, netted area

3. Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii), Common Raven (Corvus corax)​

Open topped terrarium

4. Desert Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata luteola), Sonoran Mud Turtle

(Kinosternon sonoriense) (SNS)​

Standard Prairie-dog digging pit

5. Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)​

Small aviary with large, withered cactus

6. Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum)​

Walkthrough aviary

7. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), Greater

Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)​

Arizona Reptiles

1. Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans)​

Long row of double-stacked terrariums

2. Madrean Alligator Lizard (Elgaria kingii) (SNS), Canyon Treefrog (Hyla

arenicolor), Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus jarrovii)​

3. Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana)
4. Twin-spotted Rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei)
5. Great Basin Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus)
6. Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi)
7. Green Ratsnake (Senticolis triaspis) (SNS)
8. Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi)
9. Grand-canyon Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus abyssus)
10. Hopi Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis nuntius)
11. Western Diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) (albino)
12. Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)
13. Desert Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula splendida)
14. Long-nosed snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei)
15. Western Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula nigrita)
16. Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchelli)
17. Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes)
18. Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchelli)
19. Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris)
20. Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus)
21. Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)​

Large terrarium at the end

22. Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus), Red Coachwhip (Masticophis

flagellum piceus), Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis), Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) (SNS), Western Diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus), Sonoran Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer affinis)​

Deserts of the world
Collection of terrariums of varying sizes

1. Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum exasperatum)
2. Baja blue rock lizard (Petrosaurus thalassinus)
3. Gidgee Skink (Egernia stokesii)
4. Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)
5. Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri)
6. Moroccan Cobra (Naja haje legionis)
7. Saw Scaled Viper (Echis coloratus)
8. Santa Catalina Island rattlesnake (Crotalus catalinensis)
9. Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes)
10. Saharan Horned Viper (Cerastes cerastes)
11. Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegates)
12. Desert blond tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes)
13. Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus)​

Diversity of the desert
Wall of terrariums of varying sizes

1. Sunburst diving beetle (Thermonectus marmoratus)
2. Blue death feigning beetle (Asbolus verrucosus)
3. Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus)
4. Western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus
5. Arizona Walking Stick (Diapheromera arizonensis)
6. Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)
7. Couch’s Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus couchii)
8. Red Spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus)
9. Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius)
10. Night Snake (Hypsiglena torquata)
11. Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
12. Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus jarrovii)
13. Green Toad (Anaxyrus debilis)
14. Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum)
15. Regal Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma solare) (SNS)
16. Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus)
17. Western Shovel-nosed Snake (Chionactis occipitalis) (SNS)
18. Ground Snake (Sonora semiannulata) (SNS)
19. Thornscrub Hook-nosed Snake (Gyalopion quadrangulare) (SNS)
20. Eastern Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora grahamiae)
21. Desert Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata gracia)
22. Mexican Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata trivirgata)
23. Black-necked Gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis)​

Larger terrarium at the end

24. Eastern Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) (SNS), Common Chuckwalla

(Sauromalus ater), Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura conspicuousa x C. hemilopha macrolopha)​

Outdoor trails
Aviary with thin viewing mesh

1. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)​

Darkened enclosure with see-through nest boxes

2. Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus)​

Open slices of desert habitat

3. Coyote (Canis latrans) (SNS)
4. Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu)​

Rather small canyon-style enclosure

5. Bobcat (Lynx rufus)​

Open slice of desert habitat

6. Peninsular Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana peninsularis)​

Rather small canyon-style enclosure

7. Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)
8. North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) (On loan to SDZ) (SNS)​

Smaller aviary

9. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)​

Well-furnished aviary

10. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

(SNS), American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), Thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha), Curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre), Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae), White-throated Ground Dove (Gallicolumba xanthonura) (Unsigned) ​

Standard shrubby and large wolf enclosure

Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)​

Larger aviary

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)​

Large and well-furnished aviary

California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)​

Desert Lives Trail

1. Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx)
2. Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana)​

Africa Trail
Large, open, dusty plain

1. Helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris) (SNS), Masai giraffe (Giraffa

camelopardalis tippelskirchii), Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsoni), East African Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum gbbericeps), Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis)​

Sectioned off open exhibit

2. Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi) (SNS)​

Standard flamingo pool

3. Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)​

Standard smaller otter exhibit

4. Spotted-necked Otter (Lutra maculicollis) (m)​

Standard open, grassy Cheetah exhibit

5. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)​

Open, large, and dusty enclosure

6. African painted dog (Lycaon pictus)​

Large, open, and dusty

7. Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii), Grey-crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum

gibbericeps), Sulcata Tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) (SNS)​

Rocky and large moat style enclosure

8. Hamadryas Baboon (Papio hamadryas) (m)​

Grassy, classic moat style enclosure

9. Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)​

Open, and dusty

10. Southern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum)​

Smaller, rocky enclosure

11. Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) (SNS)
12. Aldabra Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
13. Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus)​

Row of aviaries

14. Lady ross turaco (Musophaga rossae)
15. Golden-breasted starling (Cosmopsarus regius), Spotted Dikkop (Burhinus

capensis)​

Open and dusty enclosure with a couple active warthogs

16. Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
17. Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus) (SNS)​

Predator Passage
Adequate enclosure with large rocky outcropping

1. African Lion (Panthera leo)​

Enclosure with many logs for perching raptors and small trees

2. Lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos), Ruppell’s vulture (gyps rueppellii)​

Standard meerkat enclosure

3. Meerkat (Suricata suricata) (Not arrived) (SNS)​

Very new looking, but unfortunately quite open and bare

4. Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)​

Adequate enclosure with rocks and planting

5. Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)​

Small rocky enclosure

6. Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) (SNS), Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda)​

 

[birdsandbats]

Species lists for American zoos should not be on the way out, IMO. Having a full list of all of the species seen on a visit is still important, and will remain being important, IMO. It tells you things that ZTL cannot.

 

[CMP]

Tropics Trail
Isle of the Tiger- Nice viewing area for two rather standard enclosures

1. Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)​

Rotated large pachyderm enclosures

2. Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) (SNS)
3. Greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis)​

On the smaller side

4. Jaguar (Panthera onca)​

Series of aviaries along a small offshoot trail with the jaguars

5. Golden Conure (Guaruba guarouba), Sun Conure (Aratinga solstitialis)
6. Curl-crested aracari (Pteroglossus beauharnaisii)
7. Blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota)
8. Plush Crested Jay (Cyanocorax chrysops), Ringed Teal (Callonetta leucophrys)​

Large, natural pond with not a gator in view from the boardwalk

9. American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) (SNS)​

Aviary for colorful water-associated birds

10. Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber), American

Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)​

Series of dusty paddocks

11. Iguana Cove Galapagos Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra vicina)
12. Volcan Darwin Galapagos Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra microphyes)
13. Chacoan Peccary (Catagonus wagneri)​

Small corn-crib style enclosure

14. Golden Conure (Guaruba guarouba)
​

Outdoor row of no-show lizards, likely away for the season like all the sns reptiles in Arizona trails

15. San Esteban Chuckwalla (Sauromalus varius), Baja blue rock lizard

(Petrosaurus thalassinus), Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura conspicuousa x C. hemilopha macrolopha) (SNS)​

16. Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta cornuta) (SNS)
17. Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (Cyclura lewisi) (SNS)
​

Standard flamingo pool

18. Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)​

Dusty paddock

19. Crested screamer (Chauna torquata)​

Larger dusty paddock

20. Greater Rhea (Rhea americana), Patagonian Mara (Dolichotis patagonum)​

Netted, nicely vertical monkey enclosure

21. Black and Gold Howler Monkey (Alouatta caraya)​

Walk-through enclosure with mature trees I saw one leaping between

22. Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus)​

Grassy field for two sleeping canids

23. Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)​

Nicely done complex where I saw an orang exhibiting nesting behavior by carrying a large palm frond on its back. Could be a lot more vertical, however.

24. Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)
​

Tropical Flights
Series of aviaries of varying sizes, all decently furnished

1. Beautiful Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus pulchellus), Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus

solomonensis) (SNS), Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi), Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove (Gallicolumba luzonica), Green-naped Pheasant Pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis nobilis), Scarlet-faced Liocichla (Liocichla ripponi), Common Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) (Unsigned)​

2. Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
3. White-throated Ground Dove (Pampusana xanthonura)
4. Western Crowned Pigeon (Goura cristata), Great Argus (Argusianus argus

argus), White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis), Black-naped Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus melanospilus), Black-throated Laughingthrush (Dryonastes chinensis), Greater Malayan Chevrotain (Tragulus napu)​

Walkthrough with an artificial meandering stream

5. Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis), Javan Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus

muticus) (SNS), Pied imperial pigeon (Ducula bicolor), Marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica), White-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata), Palawan Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis), Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria), Masked lapwing (Vanellus miles miles), Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica metallica), Pink-necked Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus porphyreus)​

Large, vertical, well planted aviary

6. Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros)​

Small bird enclosures

7. Mariana Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus roseicapilla)
8. Black-capped Lory (Lories lory)
9. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus)​

Vertical aviary with a small water feature

10. Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus), Radjah Shelduck (Tadorna radjah)
​

Leapin' Lagoon
On an island

1. Buff-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus gabriellae)​

Throughout the lake

2. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)​

note- I think there were two more lemur islands that I missed

​

Komodo Kingdom

1. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
2. Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)
3. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) (Under construction) (SNS)
​

Forest of Uco
Large, winding exhibit with water features

1. Andean bear (tremarctos ornatus)​

Open-topped pool, a bit too small

2. South American Lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa) (SNS), Black pacu

(Colossoma macropomum), White blotched river stingray (Potamotrygon leopoldi)​

3. White-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia), Silver teal (Spatula versicolor)
4. Black-handed Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)
5. Scarlet macaw (Ara macao)
6. Hawk-headed parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus)
7. Barn Owl (Tyto alba)​

Row of terrariums

8. Brazilian salmon pink birdeater (Lasiodora parahybana)
9. Greenbottle blue tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) (SNS)
10. Pinktoe tarantula (Avicularia avicularia)
11. Bark Scorpion (Centruroides sp.) (SNS)
12. Curlyhair tarantula (Tliltocatl albopilosus) (SNS)
13. Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)
14. Green Aracari (Pteroglossus viridis)
15. Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria), Pearl Island Boa (Boa constrictor

sabogae), 'Hog island' boa constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator)​

16. Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata) (SNS), Blue-billed Curassow (Crax

alberti), Venezuelan Troupial (Icterus icterus)​

17. Black-throated Magpie Jay (Calocitta formosa colliei) (b)​

Series of well-planted terrariums in a wooden hut

18. Kaup’s Caecilian (Potomotyphlus kaupii), fish sp.
19. Bumblebee Toad (Melanophryniscus stelzneri) (SNS), Lemur Leaf Frog

(Agalychnis lemur) (a)​

20. Dendrobates auratus, Adelphobates galactonotus, Phyllobates vittatus(SNS),

Black and yellow dart frog (Dendrobates leucomelas), Anthony's poison dart frog (Epipedobates anthonyi)​

21. Tiger Ratsnake (Spilotes pullatus)
22. Smallwood’s Anole (Anolis smallwoodi), Casque-headed Iguana

(Corytophanes cristatus), Amazon milk frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix) (SNS)​

Children’s Trail
Primate Island

1. Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus)​

Standard dusty enclosures

2. Red-Necked Wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus)
3. Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)​

Small building for large reptiles

4. Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus)
5. Gray’s Monitor (Varanus olivaceus)​

Row of tamarin enclosures

6. Cotton-top Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus)
7. Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus imperator) (m)
8. Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia)​

This miss really hurts, I didn't have time to come back to look for it. I should've been more proactive and asked for feeding times. It might've been just too cold for them.

9. Mexican Red Brocket Deer (Mazama americana temama) (SNS)​

At least I got great views of this beautiful male cervid sitting out in the sun

10. Calamian Deer (Axis calamianensis)​

Another group of terrariums with outdoor viewing around a central building

11. Common flat-tail gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus), Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko

(Uroplatus henkeli), Standing’s day gecko (Phelsuma standingi) (SNS)​

- I have terrible luck with that day gecko species
12. West African Gaboon Viper (Bitis rhinoceros)
13. Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchelli)
14. Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi)

Juvenile in small terrarium​

15. Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
16. Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria)

Juvenile in small terrarium​

17. Iguana Cove Galapagos Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra vicina)
18. Louisiana Pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni)
19. Black Tree Monitor (Varanus beccarii)
20. Emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator)
21. Blue death feigning beetle (Asbolus verrucosus)
22. Brazilian salmon pink birdeater (Lasiodora parahybana)
23. Gooty Sapphire Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica) (SNS)
24. Giant Cave Cockroach (Blaberus giganteus)
25. Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa)
26. Two-spotted assassin bug (Platymeris biguttata)
27. Boyd’s Forest Dragon (Lophosaurus boydii)
​

Dusty pit-style enclosure

28. Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons)​

Large, forested aviary

29. Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros)

30. Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)​

I think the bats were in their nest box

31. African Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) (SNS), Radiated Tortoise

(Astrochelys radiata), Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), Madagascar Crested Ibis (Lophotibis cristata)​

32. King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa)
33. Geoffroy’s marmoset (Callithrix geoffroyi)
34. Linne’s Two-Toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
35. Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
36. Common squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus)
​

Forgot to mention the desert pupfish pools in front of the large African savanna mixed-species enclosure, I missed those on my visit. There might be one or two others I didn't see or list.

​

And that's it. Not my best zoo visit by some margin. January really is the off season, I'll need to come back sometime like May or August after the monsoon, maybe everything is a bit less dry then, and the reptiles will actually be out.

I normally don't have this many no-shows, but I was also considerably rushed with only about 3 hours and 45 minutes of time spent at the zoo. Brocket and some of the reptiles were considerable misses. Overall, I was a bit disappointed with Phoenix, I'd really been looking forward to it for a long time but I can see now why it isn't considered in the highest regard. I imagined I'd like it better than someplace like Cincinnati, but I do think Cincinnati is better.

Still an enjoyable visit, I think if I spent closer to 5 hours I would've enjoyed myself a lot more. I was also recovering from an illness, so wasn't feeling too great anyways. Despite me sounding quite negative, I'd recommend visiting, it's a nice zoo.

 

[CMP]

Species lists for American zoos should not be on the way out, IMO. Having a full list of all of the species seen on a visit is still important, and will remain being important, IMO. It tells you things that ZTL cannot.

Of course, I agree completely, that's why I'm still doing this one

Another motivation for me is that I don't think Phoenix ever had a full species list on the site, other than intertwined in reviews (Like @snowleopard's excellent posts last summer)

I do wish European zoos had more species lists on ZC, conveying the layout location of species and the inhabitants of specific buildings and complexes.