BEHIND THE SCENES PART 1: BIRDS
A really great aspect to Plzen's zoo is their wonderful staff and how open-minded they are towards zoo enthusiasts. Any visit to the zoo is incredibly enhanced if one manages to get a tour through their off-show area, which holds an incredibly diverse array of birds, reptiles, and rodents, and has some other very interesting mammals dotted throughout.
I'll be splitting this post into 3 parts as I sorted out the birds first, and don't want to procrastinate the mammals and reptiles to the point where nothing ever gets posted.
I will remind you, though, that none of these are signed; I took pictures of every bird species I saw and went through those pictures to identify them, but I may very well have made slight mistakes, or missed a certain bird. Additionally, I can never know if I was shown all species that are kept off-show, so this list might have a few gaps here and there.
Pigeons:
Domestic pigeon, Columba livia f. domestica
Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
Pink pigeon, Nesoenas mayeri
Madagascar turtle dove, Nesoenas picturata picturata
Eastern oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis orientalis
Socorro dove, Zenaida graysoni
White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica
Ruddy ground-dove, Columbina talpacoti talpacoti
Indian emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica indica
Stephan’s dove, Chalcophaps stephani
Mindanao bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba crinigera
Luzon bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica
Cinnamon ground-dove, Gallicolumba rufigula
Red-necked Sulawesi ground-dove, Gallicolumba tristigmata bimaculata
Diamond dove, Geopelia cuneata
Bar-shouldered dove, Geopelia humeralis
Barred dove, Geopelia maugeus
Peaceful dove, Geopelia placida
Zebra dove, Geopelia striata
Wonga pigeon, Leucosarcia melanoleuca
Common bronzewing, Phaps chalcoptera
Bush bronzewing, Phaps elegans
Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica
White-eared brown dove, Phapitreron leucotis
Pink-necked green pigeon, Treron vernans
Orange-fronted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus aurantiifrons
Black-naped fruit-dove, Ptilinopus melanospila
Pink-headed fruit-dove, Ptilinopus porphyreus
Beautiful fruit-dove, Ptilinopus pulchellus
Superb fruit-dove, Ptilinopus superbus
Sunda green imperial pigeon, Ducula aenea aenea
Spotted imperial pigeon, Ducula carola
Island imperial pigeon, Ducula pistrinaria
Pink-headed imperial pigeon, Ducula rosacea
Passerines:
Steppe horned lark, Eremophila alpestris brandti
Black lark, Melanocorypha yeltoniensis
Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica rustica
Chestnut bulbul, Hemixos castanonotus
Black-headed bulbul, Pycnonotus atriceps
Cream-striped bulbul, Pycnonotus leucogrammicus
Chinese bulbul, Pycnonotus sinensis sinensis
Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulous
Grey hypoculius, Hypocolius ampelinus
Oriental magpie-robin, Copsychus saularis
Rufous scrub-robin, Erythropygia galactotes
Black wheatear, Oenanthe leucura
Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Grey-backed thrush, Turdus hortulorum
Eurasian song thrush, Turdus philomelos philomelos
Chestnut-backed ground thrush, Zoothera dohertyi
Oriole warbler, Hypergerus atriceps
Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
Red-fronted laughingthrush, Garrulax rufifrons
Great kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus
Chestnut-flanked white-eye, Zosterops erythropleurus
Blue-faced honeyeater, Entomyzon cyanotis
Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus
Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio
Sumatran treepie, Dendrocitta occipitalis
Golden-crested myna, Ampeliceps coronatus
Sulawesi myna, Basilornis celebensis
Bali myna, Leucopsar rothschildi
Emerald starling, Lamprotornis iris
Yellow-faced myna, Mino dumontii
Scissor-billed grosbeak, Scissirostrum dubium
White-shouldered starling, Sturnia sinensis
Napoleon bishop, Euplectes afer afer
Fire-crowned bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus
Madagascar fody, Foudia madagascariensis
Western village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus
Grey-headed social weaver, Pseudonigrita arnaudi arnaudi
Painted firetail, Emblema pictum
Gouldian finch, Erythrura gouldiae
Fiji parrotfinch, Erythrura pealii
Blue-faced parrotfinch, Erythrura trichroa sigillifera
Tricolor parrotfinch, Erythrura tricolor
Madagascar bibfinch, Lepidopygia nana
Malaysian chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla sinensis
Chestnut-breasted munia, Lonchura castaneothorax castaneothorax
Chestnut-breasted munia, Lonchura castaneothorax sharpii
Dusky munia, Lonchura fuscans
Javan munia, Lonchura leucogastroides
White-faced munia, Lonchura maja
Black-faced munia, Lonchura molucca
Pale-headed munia, Lonchura pallida
Indian scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata punctulata
Black munia, Lonchura stygia
Plum-headed finch, Neochmia modesta
Timor sparrow, Padda fuscata
Yellow-billed long-tailed finch, Poephila acuticauda acuticauda
Black-throated finch, Poephila cincta
Masked finch, Poephila personata
Timor zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata guttate
Chestnut-eared finch, Taeniopygia guttata castanotis
Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githagineus zedlitzi
Eurasian goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
Oriental greenfinch, Carduelis sinica
Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes coccothraustes
Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs coelebs
Island canary, Serinus canaria
Cuban grassquit, Tiaris canorus
Montserrat oriole, Icterus oberi
Parrots:
Ducorp’s corella, Cacatua ducorpsii
Red-vented cockatoo, Cacatua haematuropygia
Stella’s lorikeet, Charmosyna stellae
Purple-naped lorikeet, Lorius domicella
Marigold lorikeet, Trichoglossus capistratus capistratus
Scaly-breasted lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Sumba lorikeet, Trichoglossus forsteni forsteni
Mitchell’s lorikeet, Trichoglossus forsteni mitchellii
Mindanao lorikeet, Trichoglossus johnstoniae
Vernal hanging-parrot, Loriculus vernalis
Lesser vasa, Coracopsis nigra
Greater vasa, Coracopsis vasa
Madagascar lovebird, Agapornis canus
Dammerman's moustached parakeet, Psittacula alexandri dammermani
Yellow-fronted parakeet, Cyanoramphus auriceps
Red-fronted parakeet, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae
Swift parrot, Lathamus discolour
Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus
Blue-winged parrot, Neophema chrysostoma
Elegant parrot, Neophema elegans
Turquoise parrot, Neophema pulchella
Scarlet-chested parrot, Neophema splendida
Bourke’s parrot, Neopsephotus bourkii
Green rosella, Platycercus caledonicus
Golden-shouldered parrot, Psephotellus chrysopterygius
Hooded parrot, Psephotellus dissimilis
Bucerotiformes:
Luzon hornbill, Penelopides manillae manillae
Visayan tarictic hornbill, Penelopides panini panini
Southern Sulawesi tarictic hornbill, Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus sanfordi
Coraciiformes:
Red-throated bee-eater, Merops bulocki
Collared kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris
Tinamous:
Elegant crested tinamou, Eudromia elegans
Caprimulgiformes:
Tawny frogmouth, Podargus strigoides
Shorebirds:
Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
Blacksmith lapwing, Vanellus armatus
Gruiformes:
Corn crake, Crex crex
Spotted crake, Porzana porzana
Water rail, Rallus aquaticus
Cuckoos:
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
Galliformes:
European quail, Coturnix coturnix coturnix
Harlequin quail, Coturnix delegorguei
Madagascar partridge, Margaroperdix madagarensis
Jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica
Owls:
Philippine scops owl, Otus megalotis
Undefined scops owl, Otus sp.
BEHIND THE SCENES PART 2: MAMMALS
Besides a wonderful bird collection, Plzen also has a nice assortment of mammals in their off-show area, most of which rodents. I've never seen such a large collection of spiny mice and gerbils/jirds.
Marsupials:
Kowari, Dasyuroides byrnei
Brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula
Striped possum, Dactylopsila trivirgata
Sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps
Feather-tailed glider, Acrobates pygmaeus
Tenrecs:
Lesser hedgehog tenrec, Echinops telfairi
Greater hedgehog tenrec, Setifer setosus
Bats:
Pale spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus discolor*
Primates:
Collared lemur, Eulemur collaris
Lac Alaotra bamboo lemur, Hapalemur alaotrensis
Red ruffed lemur, Varecia rubra
Goodman's mouse lemur, Microcebus lehilahytsara
Rodents:
Kellen’s African dormouse, Graphiurus parvus
Gundi, Ctenodactylus gundi
Rock cavy, Kerodon rupestris
Greater guinea pig, Cavia magna
Cururo, Spalacopus cyanus
Cuban hutia, Capromys pilorides
Merriam's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys merriami
Afghan mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus mystax
Golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus
Campbell’s hamster, Phodopus campbelli crepidatus
Steppe lemming, Lagurus lagurus
Guenther’s vole, Microtus guentheri
Cactus mouse, Peromyscus eremicus
Hispid cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus
Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus cahirinus
Asian minor spiny mouse, Acomys cilicicus
Palestine spiny mouse, Acomys dimidiatus dimidiatus
Crete spiny mouse, Acomys minous
Mount Kulal spiny mouse, Acomys percivali
Egyptian Sundevall’s jird, Meriones crassus perpallidus
Tibesti spiny mouse, Acomys seurati
African spiny mouse, Acomys spinosissimus
Wagner’s gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus
Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus
Persian jird, Meriones persicus
Shaw's jird, Meriones shawi
Clawed jird, Meriones unguiculatus
Fat-tailed gerbil, Pachyuromys duprasi
Fat sand rat, Psammomys obesus obesus
Bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus
Alpine field mouse, Apodemus alpicola
European wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus
Ural field mouse, Apodemus uralensis
Neumann’s grass rat, Arvicanthus neumanni
Nile rat, Arvicanthis niloticus niloticus
Australian water rat, Hydromys chrysogaster
Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus ardens
European harvest mouse, Micromys minutus
South African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides
Mesic four-striped grass rat, Rhabdomys dilectus
Xeric four-striped grass mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio
Acacia rat, Thallomys paedulcus (signed as T.loringi)
Southern luzon clouded rat, Phloeomys cumingi
Grandidier’s tufted-tailed rat, Eliurus grandidieri
Carnivores:
Palawan leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis heaneyi
*Not 100% sure about this one; their cage was impossible to take decent enough pictures in, but their nose seemed different than Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina and Leptonycteris curasoae also kept by the collection.
Also, about the birds post, black wheatear are ssp riggenbachi, horned lark are ssp atlas, and chaffinch are ssp africanus instead of what I listed them as
BEHIND THE SCENES PART 3: REPTILES + AMPHIBIANS
And last but not least is their wonderful collection of herps, largely focusing on the Malagasy fauna with no less than 22 species of Phelsuma! There were more chameleons present, but as those weren't in glass-fronted terraria and I didn't have unlimited time in that area, I didn't want to prevent the keepers from working too long.
Testudines
Elongated tortoise, Indotestudo elongata
Forsten’s tortoise, Indotestudo forstenii
Common spider tortoise, Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides
Unidentified (mud) turtle, To be identified
Lizards
Three-eyed lizard, Chalarodon madagascariensis
Cuvier’s Madagascar swift, Oplurus cuvieri
Merrem’s Madagascar swift, Oplurus cyclurus
Anzamala Madagascar swift, Oplurus fierinensis
Grandidier’s Madagascar swift, Oplurus grandidieri
Dumeril’s Madagascar swift, Oplurus quadrimaculatus
Brown anole, Anolis sagrei
Unidentified anole, To be identified
Domergue’s leaf chameleon, Brookesia thieli
Parson’s chameleon, Calumma parsonii
Two-horned Madagascar chameleon, Furcifer bifidus
Jewelled chameleon, Furcifer lateralis
Oustalet’s chameleon, Furcifer oustaleti
Canopy chameleon, Furcifer willsii
Antongil velvet gecko, Blaesodactylus antongilensis
Grandidier’s velvet gecko, Blaesodactylus sakalava
Golden fish-scaled gecko, Geckolepis maculata
Gray’s leaf-toed gecko, Hemidactylus mercatorius
Flathead leaf-toed gecko, Hemidactylus platycephalus
Mourning gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris
Madagascar dwarf gecko, Lygodactylus madagascariensis
Mocquard’s Madagascar ground gecko, Paroedura bastardi
Mount Ibidty Madagascar ground gecko, Paroedura ibityensis
Stumpf’s Madagascar ground gecko, Paroedura stumpffi
Reunion Island day gecko, Phelsuma borbonica borbonica
Blue-tailed day gecko, Phelsuma cepediana
Yellow-throated day gecko, Phelsuma flavigularis
Greater day gecko, Phelsuma grandis
Speckled day gecko, Phelsuma guttata
Hielscher’s day gecko, Phelsuma hielscheri
Reunion Island ornate day gecko, Phelsuma inexpectata
Yellow-headed day gecko, Phelsuma klemmeri
Koch’s giant day gecko, Phelsuma kochi
Broad-tailed day gecko, Phelsuma laticauda
Lined day gecko, Phelsuma lineata
Boehme’s giant day gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis boehmei
Madagascar day gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis
Modest day gecko, Phelsuma modesta isakae
Modest day gecko, Phelsuma modesta leiogaster
Island day gecko, Phelsuma nigristriata
Peacock day gecko, Phelsuma quadriocellata
Robert Mertens’ day gecko, Phelsuma robertmertensi
Olafian day gecko, Phelsuma seippi
Standing’s day gecko, Phelsuma standingi
Van Heygen’s day gecko, Phelsuma vanheygeni
Boettger’s day gecko, Phelsuma v-nigra comoraegrandensis
Common wall gecko, Tarentola mauritanica
Crested gecko, Correlophus ciliatus
Bauer’s chameleon-gecko, Eurydactylodes agricolae
Vieillard’s chameleon-gecko, Eurydactylodes vieillardi
Madagascar keeled cordylid, Tracheloptychus madagascariensis
Peters’ keeled cordylid, Tracheloptychus petersi
Green girdled lizard, Zonosaurus haraldmeieri
Karsten’s girdled lizard, Zonosaurus karsteni
Western girdled lizard, Zonosaurus laticaudatus
Madagascar girdled lizard, Zonosaurus madagascariensis
Ornate girdled lizard, Zonosaurus ornatus
Three-lined girdled lizard, Zonosaurus trilineatus
Black-striped skink, Amphiglossus macrocercus
Common Madagascar skink, Madascincus melanopleura
Tyrrhenian wall lizard, Podarcis tiliguerta
Snakes
Madagascar ground boa, Acrantophis madagascariensis
Malagasy speckled hognose snake, Leioheterodon geayi
Malagasy cat-eyed snake, Madagascarophis colubrinus pastoriensis
Unidentified snake, To be identified
Frogs
Natterjack toad, Epidalea calamita
Modest forest treefrog, Leptopelis modestus
Marbled Madagascar rain frog, Scaphiophryne marmorata
White-spotted reed frog, Heterixalus alboguttatus
Madagascar reed frog, Heterixalus madagascariensis
Elena’s bright-eyed frog, Boophis elenae
Ankafana bright-eyed frog, Boophis luteus
Central bright-eyed frog, Boophis rappioides
Free Madagascar frog, Guibemantis liber
Tsarafidy Madagascar frog, Guibemantis pulcher
Bronze mantella, Mantella betsileo
Splendid mantella, Mantella pulchra
Green mantella, Mantella viridis
Brown frog, Rana temporaria
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I believe that concludes all of the off-show species I saw, and as I've already listed all the on-show species and everything present at AkvaTera, I suppose that concludes the list in general! I hope this was relevant for people visiting the absolutely wonderful collection
Many thanks yet again TLD
Thank you that is so helpful!
