Reptiles and Amphibians in Australian Zoos

S

Shirokuma

Well-Known Member
Again inspired by the New Zealand thread, what is the situation like for Australian collections regarding reptiles and amphibians?
 
I can see this becoming a long thread!

The exotics I know of are listed below, and there's bound to be a lot more. For Australian native species (over 1000 species!), its a good bet that any and all are or have been kept in zoos and private collections there.

AMPHIBIANS

Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)
Japanese fire-bellied newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster)

Romer's tree frog (Liuixalus romeri)
Dying poison-arrow frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)
Blue poison-arrow frog (Dendrobates azureus)
Splash-back poison-arrow frog (Dendrobates galactonotus)
Cane toad (Bufo marinus)
African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)


REPTILES

American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)
Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

Common tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

Scheltopusik (Ophisaurus (or Pseudopus) apodus)
Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)
Philippine sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus)
Jewelled lizard (Lacerta lepida)
Green iguana (Iguana iguana)
Double-crested basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)
Rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta)
Fijian crested iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis)
Fijian banded iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus)
Black tegu (Tupinambis teguixin)
Jackson's chameleon (Chamaeleo jacksonii)
Veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)
Solomon Island skink (Corucia zebrata)
New Caledonian giant gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus)
Madagascar day gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis)
Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko)
Leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularus)
Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)

Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus)
Blood python (Python curtus)
Ball (royal) python (Python regius)
Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
Yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)
Common boa (Boa constrictor)
Amazon tree boa (Corallus hortulanus)
Emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus)
Pacific ground boa (Solomon Islands boa) (Candoia carinata)
Mangrove snake (Boiga dendrophila)
Taiwan beauty snake (Orthriophis taeniurus friesi)
Eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii)
Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis)
Urutu (Bothrops alternatus)
Forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca)
Snouted cobra (Naja annulifera)
Asian cobra (Naja naja)
King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)
Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
Rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus)
Aruba Island rattlesnake (Crotalus (durissys) unicolor)
Hog-nosed snake (Heterodon (sp?))
Corn snake (Elaphe guttata)
Honduran milk-snake (Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis)

Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra)
Chaco tortoise (Chelonoidis petersi / C. chilensis)
Elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata)
Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans)
African spurred tortoise (Geochelone sulcata)
Greek (spur-thighed) tortoise (Testudo graeca)
Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)
Matamata (Chelus fimbriatus)
Ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata)
River cooter (Pseudemys floridana)
Red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans)
Spiny terrapin (Heosemys spinosa)
various Cuora species (Malayan, three-striped, etc)
 
Last edited:
ah yes, I did know of the first three but forgot. I've never seen a forest cobra, where are they kept?

I also just remembered the urutu (Bothrops alternatus), if there are any still in the zoos there.

And also just looking at Perth Zoo's website, it says they have radiated tortoises.
 
Australian Reptile Park also have Black Tegu, when I was there the staff were carrying one round for people to pat. They had King Cobra when I was there last too (2009).
 
I'm always a bit surprised by the number of exotic reptiles kept in Australian zoos, most of which theoretically could establish wild populations if escaped (just what Australia needs: more venomous snakes :D). I wonder if they are mostly there as historic zoo populations with not many recent imports. I believe several species held in the zoos there are the result of confiscations of illegal pets and smuggled animals.

I believe (Australians can correct me if wrong) that there are almost no exotic herptiles that can be kept privately in Australia, although it's not difficult to get licences to keep the native species. [At the risk of infuriating reptile keepers, I think that's a good thing!]
 
Yes, people in Australia are unable to keep exotic reptiles legally. Except I think there may be a green iguana breeder in Queensland. Not too many reptiles have been imported in recent years, except for those imported for the Australian Reptile Park after their fire. Adelaide imported 4 mata mata turtles (to join their lone male) two years back, but im not what else has been.
 
oh wow I completely forgot about that fire, it was a terrible thing to happen
 
The only legal herp allowed in australia is the axolotl. There are people with exotics that are held under special permits, issued during amnesties and the like. But these are the only exceptions. Exotics cannot be legally bred and traded.

Depending on the definition of "recent", There have been a number of reptile/amphibian imports in recent years. Melbourne Zoo imported the blue, splashback and (more) dyeing poison dart frogs only a few years ago. I believe the veiled chameleon was another recent addition. moving further back, Philippine crocodiles, Romer's tree frog, three striped box turtles and Fijian iguanas are more examples.

In addition I do believe new specimens of existing species have come in here and there.
 
I just edited the list in post #2 to include the additional species mentioned :)
 
All the Romer's tree frogs were returned to the wild. So whilst they WERE imported relatively recently, sadly they were all exported back again as well!

Sorry if I was misleading.
 
There were Boelen's python and an African bullfrog at Aust Reptile Park.

Previously there have been Gaboon viper (have heard they are in the illegal private trade) and Egyptian tortoise (from Perth, joined European breeding program).

Are there still Spec caimans in the country?
 
Last edited:
I was wondering about caiman myself. I was sure they had been at one or more of the reptile parks (but I couldn't remember the species), but I didn't know if they were still around because I couldn't find anything on them.
 
If memory serves me correct the last Caiman are at Malcolm Douglas'.
Mexican Cantil at Bredl's too.
 
I seem to remember a small number of New Guinea crocs around the place in the early 2000's. Douglas had around three caiman. Not sure if, or why the Niles and Caiman never bred.
 
Exotic reptiles should always be illegal.

If stupid people want to break the law and risk our biosecurity then they should be prosecuted. We've been through all this with bird imports. Have we not learnt from Florida who are now trying to ban and licence reptiles. If you go to Florida the only lizards you'll see and step on are iguanas. Our climate is perfect for reptiles and having endless small marsuipals to dine on is just asking for trouble.

We already have breeding populations of sliders in Queensland and N.S.W. They are tough turtles and will try to eat anything that moves and I mean anything. If exotics are allowed to be kept, reptiles that were once rare will become common and cheap and as a result they will be dumped.Some of these snakes and lizards produce large clutches of eggs,a few become many very quickly. That goes double for turtles and amphibians.

Everyone wants what they can't have,it's human nature. I would love some chameleons or a caiman. These animals don't belong in private hands. Leave it to zoos and reptile parks.


Here in Australia we already have far too many feral animal populations as well as the worst extinction record of modern times.

Do we need to risk more ferals and more extinctions.Just because a few people want to keep exotic reptiles.

Now tigers on the other hand would make a great pet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top