ZooChat Challenge (Global) 2019

[Penshet]

Thats indeed one of the species I missed as well as the Majorcan midwife toad and the Pinchincha dart frog but ZTL all mention them as being not seen sofar this year at Paris so maybe they are all kept behind the scenes or not kept anymore at all.

During my visit in early September I did see the Pichincha poison dart frogs (in the Guyanan part of the big hall) and Macedonian newts (in the European vivarium), but the Majorcan midwife toads were offshow.

In addition, the guidebook mentions that the alpine newts are of the Bosnian subspecies (I. a. reiseri)

 

[Imperator Furiosa]

Willowbrook Wildlife Center - 08/20/2019
60. American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Shedd Aquarium (again) - 09/03/2019
61. Ocoee Salamander (Desmognathus ocoee)
62. Seepage Salamander (Desmognathus aeneus)

Philadelphia Zoo - 09/15/2019
63. Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra)
64. Kaiser’s Spotted Newt (Neurergus kaiseri)
65. Anderson’s Salamander (Ambystoma andersoni)
66. African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus)
67. Magnificent Tree Frog (Litoria splendida)
68. Sword-tail Newt (Cynops ensicauda)

I've probably seen the two from the Shedd on previous visits but just hadn't noted them until this most recent visit. I'm hoping to hit a couple more large collections before the end of the year and get into the 70s or low 80s, but I'm not certain that will happen.

National Aquarium in Baltimore - 10/13/2019
69. Splashback Poison Frog (Adelphobates galactonotus)
70. Smooth-sided Toad (Rhaebo guttatus)
71. Harlequin Poison Frog (Oophaga histrionica)
72. Yellow-striped Poison Frog (Dendrobates truncatus)

Milwaukee County Zoo - 11/16/2019
73. Cranwell’s Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli)
74. Common Surinam Toad (Pipa pipa)

I actually saw an additional new species as the MCZ, one of the two dwarf siren species. However, the species wasn't noted on the signage so if anyone happens to know which dwarf siren Milwaukee keeps let me know.

I also will likely have two more big zoo visits before the end of the year, both in mid December. I'll hopefully be able to pass 80 species with those trips, but we will have to see.

 

[birdsandbats]

National Aquarium in Baltimore - 10/13/2019
69. Splashback Poison Frog (Adelphobates galactonotus)
70. Smooth-sided Toad (Rhaebo guttatus)
71. Harlequin Poison Frog (Oophaga histrionica)
72. Yellow-striped Poison Frog (Dendrobates truncatus)

Milwaukee County Zoo - 11/16/2019
73. Cranwell’s Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli)
74. Common Surinam Toad (Pipa pipa)

I actually saw an additional new species as the MCZ, one of the two dwarf siren species. However, the species wasn't noted on the signage so if anyone happens to know which dwarf siren Milwaukee keeps let me know.

I also will likely have two more big zoo visits before the end of the year, both in mid December. I'll hopefully be able to pass 80 species with those trips, but we will have to see.

I'm pretty sure it's Siren intermedia.

 

[Imperator Furiosa]

I'm pretty sure it's Siren intermedia.

It was a dwarf siren (genus Pseudobranchus), not a lesser siren. Exhibit signage listed the genus, however it did not list the species.

 

[birdsandbats]

It was a dwarf siren (genus Pseudobranchus), not a lesser siren. Exhibit signage listed the genus, however it did not list the species.

Probably Northern then, judging by size alone.

 

[Hipporex]

I'm about to blow this competition out of the water, with a total of... *drumroll please*

17 species (14 anurans, 2 salamanders, and 1 caecilian)

California Academy of Sciences (29 Sept 2019)
01. African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)
02. Baron's painted mantella (Mantella baroni)
03. Borneo river toad (Phrynoidis juxtasper)
04. Riggenbach's reed frog (Hyperolius riggenbachi)
06. Vietnamese mossy frog (Theloderma corticale)
Sacramento Zoo (Many visits)
07. Amazon milk frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix)
08. Aquatic caecilian (Typhlonectes natans)
09. California newt (Taricha torosa)
10. California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense)
11. Golden mantella (Mantella aurantiaca)
12. Green mantella (Mantella viridis)
13. Magnificent tree frog (Ranoidea splendida)
14. Phantasmal poison frog (Epipedobates tricolor)
15. Smoky jungle frog (Leptodactylus pentadactylus)
16. White's tree frog (Ranoidea caerulea)
17. Yellow-banded poison dart frog (Dendrobates leucomelas)

Have fun beating that

Sacramento Zoo (Nov. 23, 2019)
18. Sambava tomato frog (Dyscophus guineti)

 

[Marhi]

Zoo Ostrava (Ostrava, CZ) - visit on September 21, 2019

72) Hairy Frog (Trichobatrachus robustus) - vlasatice třásnitá

Berlin Zoo (Berlin, DE) - visit on November 30, 2019 - NEW

73) Hong Kong Whipping Frog (Polypedates megacephalus) - létavka velkohlavá
74) Brongersma's Toad (Pseudepidalea brongersmai) - ropucha marocká
75) Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) - axolotl tygrovaný
76) Giant Tree Frog (Litoria infrafrenata) - rosnice běloretá
77) Algerian ribbet newt (Pleurodeles nebulosis) - žebrovník zamlžený
78) Chinese warty newt (Paramesotriton chinensis) - pačolek čínský
79) Sabana Surinam Toad (Pipa parva) - pipa malá

I expected more new species for me but it was nice visit.

 

[Marhi]

Berlin Zoo (Berlin, DE) - visit on November 30, 2019

73) Hong Kong Whipping Frog (Polypedates megacephalus) - létavka velkohlavá
74) Brongersma's Toad (Pseudepidalea brongersmai) - ropucha marocká
75) Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) - axolotl tygrovaný
76) Giant Tree Frog (Litoria infrafrenata) - rosnice běloretá
77) Algerian ribbet newt (Pleurodeles nebulosis) - žebrovník zamlžený
78) Chinese warty newt (Paramesotriton chinensis) - pačolek čínský
79) Sabana Surinam Toad (Pipa parva) - pipa malá

I expected more new species for me but it was nice visit.

Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Wien, AT) - visit on December 13, 2019 - NEW

80) Red Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga pumilio) - pralesnička drobná
81) Mountain Chicken Frog (Leptodactylus fallax) - hvízdalka

Wonderful visit. Of course, Tiergarten has amazing collection of amphibians but most of them are behind the scenes. But they are doing some construction work at Aquarium and Terrarium these days. They finished some terrariums and they put Mountain Chicken Frog (CR) on show. And I finally saw Red Poison Dart Frog, there was individual calling loudly. It was wonderful.

 

[jayjds2]

Elmwood Park Zoo 10/8/19

105. Canyon tree frog, Hyla arenicolor

Wonderful, unexpected lifers.

Saint Louis Zoo 11/29/19

106. Rio Pescado stubfoot toad, Atelopus balios
107. “Wampucrum,” Atelopus sp. “Limon”*

*some confusion over whether this is an undescribed species or an existing unidentified existing one, but in any case in PM Thylo said I could count it.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

107. “Wampucrum,” Atelopus sp. “Limon”*

Very nice indeed - judging from photographs I have seen in the past of this form, I suspect it will turn out to be one of the spumarius forms, but of course this would still be a lifer for you either way

 

[drill]

Wonderful, unexpected lifers.

Saint Louis Zoo 11/29/19

106. Rio Pescado stubfoot toad, Atelopus balios
107. “Wampucrum,” Atelopus sp. “Limon”*

*some confusion over whether this is an undescribed species or an existing unidentified existing one, but in any case in PM Thylo said I could count it.

On public display?

 

[ThylacineAlive]

On public display?

Yes.

~Thylo

 

[TeaLovingDave]

During my visit in early September I did see the Pichincha poison dart frogs (in the Guyanan part of the big hall) and Macedonian newts (in the European vivarium), but the Majorcan midwife toads were offshow.

In addition, the guidebook mentions that the alpine newts are of the Bosnian subspecies (I. a. reiseri)

Don't suppose you got photographs of the newts?

 

[jayjds2]

Very nice indeed - judging from photographs I have seen in the past of this form, I suspect it will turn out to be one of the spumarius forms, but of course this would still be a lifer for you either way

That’s what I initially thought, when I heard the species first came to the US (early this year). Since then I’ve become a little less certain, so I’d be interested to hear more.

On public display?

Yes, including tadpoles for balios.

 

[FunkyGibbon]

So close....

Cotswold Wildlife Park - 11/10/19

93. Nyctixalus pictus - Cinnamon frog
94. Polypedates otilophus - Borneo eared frog

Dudley Zoo - 27/11/19

95. Siren intermedia - Lesser siren

London Zoo - 4/12/19

96. Euproctus platycephalus - Sardinian brook salamander
97. Alytes cisternasii - Iberian midwife toad
98. Xenopus longipes - Lake Oku clawed frog
99. Rhacophorus feae - Fea's tree frog

 

[FunkyGibbon]

Kölner Zoo (visited on 4-7-2019)
58 - Vietnamese crocodile newt - Tylototriton vietnamensis

Something I've been meaning to ask. What time did you see these? In two visits and heaven knows how many trips to the terrarium I had no luck.

 

[Penshet]

@TeaLovingDave Sadly I do not. I am planning to go back next year though, so I will see if I can take a photo then.

@FunkyGibbon I think a little before noon? IIRC it was hidden under a piece of bark or a log and we could only see its tail.

 

[Imperator Furiosa]

National Aquarium in Baltimore - 10/13/2019
69. Splashback Poison Frog (Adelphobates galactonotus)
70. Smooth-sided Toad (Rhaebo guttatus)
71. Harlequin Poison Frog (Oophaga histrionica)
72. Yellow-striped Poison Frog (Dendrobates truncatus)

Milwaukee County Zoo - 11/16/2019
73. Cranwell’s Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli)
74. Common Surinam Toad (Pipa pipa)

I actually saw an additional new species as the MCZ, one of the two dwarf siren species. However, the species wasn't noted on the signage so if anyone happens to know which dwarf siren Milwaukee keeps let me know.

I also will likely have two more big zoo visits before the end of the year, both in mid December. I'll hopefully be able to pass 80 species with those trips, but we will have to see.

Milwaukee County Zoo - 11/16/2019
75. Northern Dwarf Siren (Pseudobranchus striatus)

Brookfield Zoo (again) -12/22/2019
76. Chinese Fire Belly Newt (Cynops orientalis)
77. Bumblebee Toad (Melanophryniscus stelzneri)

This is going to be my last update for the challenge. Unfortunately my planned big zoo trips got cancelled, traveling with a double ear infection and sinus infection isn't advisable. Still, saw far more species than I expected to this year. I'll post a final total update closer to New Years eve. It's been a fun challenge, looking forward to next year!

 

[Marhi]

Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Wien, AT) - visit on December 13, 2019 - NEW

80) Red Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga pumilio) - pralesnička drobná
81) Mountain Chicken Frog (Leptodactylus fallax) - hvízdalka

Wonderful visit. Of course, Tiergarten has amazing collection of amphibians but most of them are behind the scenes. But they are doing some construction work at Aquarium and Terrarium these days. They finished some terrariums and they put Mountain Chicken Frog (CR) on show. And I finally saw Red Poison Dart Frog, there was individual calling loudly. It was wonderful.

Zoo Praha (Prague, CZ) - visit on December 15, 2019 - NEW

82) Colorado River Toad (Incilius alvarius) - ropucha coloradská

 

[jayjds2]

Wonderful, unexpected lifers.

Saint Louis Zoo 11/29/19

106. Rio Pescado stubfoot toad, Atelopus balios
107. “Wampucrum,” Atelopus sp. “Limon”*

*some confusion over whether this is an undescribed species or an existing unidentified existing one, but in any case in PM Thylo said I could count it.

Identified as Atelopus pulcher at all US institutions with it.

Dallas World Aquarium 12/22/19

108. Amazon poison frog, Ranitomeya amazonica