Top 10 Most Species-Rich Zoos in the United States of America

[Nikola Chavkosk]

What would be most diverse, or the top 10 most diverse zoos in the U.S.? Maybe San Diego zoo with its 250 species of birds and 140 species of reptiles? Bronx zoo? Dallas zoo?

For comparison, according to Zootierliste, the top 10 most diverse zoos in Europe are: Berlin zoo (1,100+ species), Plzen zoo, Wroclaw zoo, Moskwa zoo, Stuttgart (Wilhelma) zoo, Budapest zoo, Tierpark Berlin, Cologne zoo, Leipzig zoo, and the Praha zoo (700+ species). The most diverse zoo in the UK is the London zoo (479 species) that falls 16th most diverse zoo in Europe. Walsrode has 650+ species of birds. Unfortunately, we still don't have an American zootierliste

 

[Giant Panda]

Okay, here's a pet peeve of mine. When used in a biological sense, the terms "diverse" and "biodiversity" aren't synonymous with species richness. At the very least, they combine the total number of species with the relative abundance of each – greater evenness equals higher diversity. So, unless someone has applied a diversity index to the collections at Berlin, Plzen, or San Diego (in which case: kudos), can we please stop calling them the most diverse zoos?

 

[Nikola Chavkosk]

Okay, here's a pet peeve of mine. When used in a biological sense, the terms "diverse" and "biodiversity" aren't synonymous with species richness. At the very least, they combine the total number of species with the relative abundance of each – greater evenness equals higher diversity. So, unless someone has applied a diversity index to the collections at Berlin, Plzen, or San Diego (in which case: kudos), can we please stop calling them the most diverse zoos?

I agree. But I have used ''diverse'' because I frequently encounter it on zoochat, instead of species-richness.

 

[Giant Panda]

I agree. But I have used ''diverse'' because I frequently encounter it on zoochat, instead of species-richness.

Yes, this is where my irritation stems from. My post wasn't aimed at you in particular.

 

[Arizona Docent]

Thankfully I do not suffer from the pet peeve of the esteemed member who lives mostly in the UK.

However the original question is certainly an interesting one. I wonder if snowleopard will chime in, since he has perhaps been to more USA zoos than any other forum member.

San Diego Zoo's two facilities are likely number one and number two.
San Antonio has an impressive bird collection which may put it in top ten overall.
Houston same as San Antonio.
Wildlife World Zoo has an amazing variety (including fish) and probably makes the list.
Bronx Zoo maybe?
What about Omaha (I haven't been)?

 

[Coelacanth18]

Dallas, Miami, and Denver. Maybe Fort Worth with all of the reptiles in MOLA. Definitely Bronx and Omaha, no doubt.

 

[Nikola Chavkosk]

I have made a quick research on the net (Wikipedia) and found out the next species-richness for certain zoos:

-Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo: 962 species (!!!)
-Huston zoo: 900 (!!)
-San Antonio zoo: 750 (!)
-San Diego zoo: 650+
-Bronx zoo: 650
-Wildlife World zoo: 600
-Denver zoo: 613
-Miami zoo: 500
-Fort Worth zoo: 435
-Dallas zoo: 406 species
-National Zoological park (Smithsonian): 400
-San Diego Zoo Safari Park: 300
-Los Angeles zoo: 250
-Atlanta zoo: 220

I had not expected that there will be richer on species zoo than the San Diego zoo in the U.S. with more than 650 species (and subspecies).

 

[Nikola Chavkosk]

I extended the quick research to include several other, more-widely known U.S. zoos and the results are:

-Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo: 962 species (!!!)
-Huston zoo: 900 (!!)
-San Antonio zoo: 750 (!)
-Toledo zoo: 700
-San Diego zoo: 650+
-Bronx zoo: 650
-Denver zoo: 613
-Wildlife World zoo: 600
-Clevelend Metroparks zoo: 600
-Cincinnaty zoo: 500
-Miami zoo: 500
-Minnesota zoo: 447
-Fort Worth zoo: 435
-Dallas zoo: 406 species
-National Zoological park (Smithsonian): 400
-Indianapolis zoo: 320
-San Diego Zoo Safari Park: 300
-Detroit zoo: 280
-Los Angeles zoo: 250
-Oregon zoo: 232
-Nort Carolina zoo: 225
-Atlanta zoo: 220

 

[Giant Panda]

I extended the quick research to include several other, more-widely known U.S. zoos and the results are:

-Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo: 962 species (!!!)
-Huston zoo: 900 (!!)
-San Antonio zoo: 750 (!)
-Toledo zoo: 700
-San Diego zoo: 650+
-Bronx zoo: 650
-Denver zoo: 613
-Wildlife World zoo: 600
-Clevelend Metroparks zoo: 600
-Cincinnaty zoo: 500
-Miami zoo: 500
-Minnesota zoo: 447
-Fort Worth zoo: 435
-Dallas zoo: 406 species
-National Zoological park (Smithsonian): 400
-Indianapolis zoo: 320
-San Diego Zoo Safari Park: 300
-Detroit zoo: 280
-Los Angeles zoo: 250
-Oregon zoo: 232
-Nort Carolina zoo: 225
-Atlanta zoo: 220

I think the answer to your question requires thinking a little further outside the box @Nikola Chavkosk:

-John G. Shedd Aquarium: 1433
(IZY 2016)

And I don't know where you're getting your figures, but some look highly inaccurate.

 

[Nikola Chavkosk]

-John G. Shedd Aquarium: 1433
(IZY 2016)

And I don't know where you're getting your figures, but some look highly inaccurate.

You can read above, I got them from Wikipedia

Wait, John G. Shedd Aquarium - is an aquarium? with 1,433 species?

 

[Coelacanth18]

Aquariums can hold a very large number of species. There can be dozens of species in a single tank, and most tanks hold a handful of species each. The Shedd has a very large gallery of tanks, two reef exhibits, an Amazon exhibit, and a traveling exhibit.1433 is a lot, but considering the number of invertebrate species they have that most people don't notice (corals, echinoderms, arthropods, etc), it sounds like a reasonable number. Also, aquariums in zoos tend to boost species numbers (ex. Omaha).

 

[Nikola Chavkosk]

The Berlin zoo has 1,363 species (Tierisch gute Nummer). According to the ZTL, it has 1,135.

 

[Merintia]

Zootierliste don´t list invertebrates, so that could be a reason for the difference. Not sure if they have as many as more than 200 species, but with the insectarium and aquarium, I suppose is possible.