ZooChat Challenge Great Britain, Ireland, and Crown Dependencies 2024

[dillotest0]

I think that banning albino axolotls might cause issues - the vast, vast majority of axolotls in UK zoological collections are albino (or occur in mixed groups of albino and wild-type) and there isn't really any concrete record of which collections hold solely wild-type.... so ruling them out would a) mean that getting that species becomes a "lucky draw" of sorts and b) potentially require people to provide proof that the collection they visited does hold wild-type (which would break rule 2).

Given the fact that all axolotls in captivity (including wild-type) contain *some* hybrid blood way-back-when in any case, one possible way to resolve this issue if you definitely don't want to include any albino axolotls would be to ban axolotls entirely under rule 9.

I've looked way too much into axolotls for the day...
Though I do find it interesting how humanity manufactured the 'neo-axolotl' largely from the axolotl, but also from the other North American salamanders. And with less than 1000 of the 'original form' remaining... but the neo-axolotl sees immense success in the laboratory and as a household pet.
Looking at older illustrations of the axolotl - my guess for what the original phenotype looked like was that it was muddy-brown with spotting; but with pink frills as well.

And some captive axolotls display such a phenotype; to varying degree.


Though of course this is rather variable

 

[Dr. Loxodonta]

Yes, it is a shame there are just two amphibians on show.

I think you may have also counted Dendrobates tinctorius twice. I believe you said you had seen them at WWT Slimbridge. Whilst the 'azureus' is a different colour morph, it isn't a separate species and we are working at species level for this challenge. No need to edit your post, I have just got you down at 19 rather than 20.

Silly mistake, thank you for the correction. Visited ZSL London so I will add these species on to the list soon.

 

[bongorob]

Drayton Manor Park 23/04/24
22 Green and Black Poison Frog Dendrobates auratus
23 Giant Leaf Frog Phyllomedusa bicolor
24 Blue-legged Mantella Mantella inexpectata

 

[bongorob]

I made a visit to Rodbaston Animal Zone, at Penkridge College today. ZTL lists,
Anthonys Poison Frog Epipedobates anthonyi
European Fire-bellied Toad Bombina bombina
Marine Toad Rhinella marina
Sambava Tomato Frog Dyscophus guineti
European Yellow-bellied Toad Bombina variegata

I think that all but the Marine Toad are no longer kept, they have closed their aquarium section.

A viv was labelled Marine Toad, but I didn't see one. I am far too short to see that far up. If I lose this challenge by one species, I will treat myself to a pair of platform shoes.

I did see African Bullfrog Pyxiecephalus adspersus which is now on my list as my 25th species. It is not listed on ZTL. I also saw Green and Black Poison Frog Dendrobates auratus and Rio Maranon Poison Frog Excidobates mysteriosus, neither of which are listed on ZTL.

So my list now includes
Rodbaston Animal Zone 05.05.25
25.African Bullfrog Pyxiecephalus adspersus

 

[Prochilodus246]

I can add these species to ZTL if you would like?

 

[bongorob]

I can add these species to ZTL if you would like?

Please feel free to do so. Thanks.

 

[bongorob]

Went to Chester today. It was busy so I walked through Monsoon Forest and decided due to the crowds I would not look for the Rock Frog. To my amazement when I walked past the viv one was sitting in plain sight on a rock. Maybe I should try not looking for Chester's Mountain Chickens. as well.

My new score
Chester Zoo 06/05/24
26.Bornean Rock Frog Staurois parvus

If anyone wants to see them at Chester, your chances have doubled. They are now also in Realm of the Red Ape, in the viv next to the Hanging Parrots.

 

[Prochilodus246]

Please feel free to do so. Thanks.

That's all updated now

 

[bongorob]

Thanks Prochilodus246.

 

[bongorob]

A viv was labelled Marine Toad, but I didn't see one. I am far too short to see that far up

I've just checked my pictures and there is indeed a Marine Toad. I have a picture of it sitting in the water bowl. Anyone wishing to see this species at Rodbaston will have no trouble providing they are over 5 feet 1 inches tall. (154,9 cm)

 

[Skukuza]

Folly Farm 11.04.24
15) Strawberry Poison Frog, Oophaga pumilio

*Edited to correct date to 11.04.24

Exmoor Zoo 16.05.24
16) White's Tree Frog, Ranoidea caerulea

 

[bongorob]

Blue Planet Aquarium 16/05/24
27 Anthony's Poison Frog Epipedobates anthonyi
28 Andean Marsupial Frog Gastrotheca riobambae
29 Chapa Bug-eyed Frog Theloderma bicolor LIFE TICK
30 False Tomato Frog Dyscopus guerneti
31 Axolotl Ambystoma mexicamum - white form

Some surprises here for me 28 and 29 were not on ZTL. A lot of species which are do not seem to be kept any longer.

 

[pipaluk]

Banham 28/3/24

11 Axolotl

British Wildlife Centre 18/5/24

12 Common Toad
13 Marsh Frog

Tilgate Nature Centre 18/5/24

14 Iberian ribbed newt
15 Phantasmal Dart Frog
16 Maranon Poison Frog

 

[bongorob]

Blackpool Zoo 25/05/24
32 Phantasmal Poison Frog Epipedobates tricolor
33 White's Tree Frog Ranoidea caerulea

Poison Frog is not listed for any European (Non EU collections. Again amphibians listed on ZTL for Blackpool were not present

 

[Prochilodus246]

Blackpool Zoo 25/05/24
32 Phantasmal Poison Frog Epipedobates tricolor
33 White's Tree Frog Ranoidea caerulea

Poison Frog is not listed for any European (Non EU collections. Again amphibians listed on ZTL for Blackpool were not present

I believe the Phantasmal poison frogs are misidentified Anthony's. This seems to be a frequent mistake that collections have made on numerous occasions.

I'll also be sure to add your observations to ZTL once I get chance.

 

[bongorob]

I think you are correct re Anthony's Poison Frog Prochilodus246. I have emailed the zoo and asked for clarification. If they do indeed hold E.anthonyi I will delete E.tricolor from my list. I do not know how to tell them apart, something I seem to have in common with a lot of zoos.

 

[Dr. Loxodonta]

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, 29/03/24

19.) Blue Poison Dart Frog, Dendrobates tinctorius azureus
20.) Strawberry Poison Dart Frog, Oophaga pumilio 'Bastimentos'

I was slightly disappointed with the lack of amphibians at the zoo but I did manage to spot the two species in their tanks.

ZSL London Zoo, 12/04/24 - 13/04/24
21. Sardinian Brook Salamander (Euproctus platycephalus)
22. Laos Warty Newt (Laotriton laoensis)
23. Mountain Chicken (Leptodactylus fallax)
24. Lake Patzcuaro Salamander (Ambystoma dumerilii)
25. Lake Oku Clawed Frog (Xenopus longipes)
26. Mallorcan Midwife Toad (Alytes muletensis)
27. Cayenne Caecilian (Typhlonectes compressicauda)
28. Rio Cauca Caecilian (Typhlonectes natans)

The following species managed to evaded me for the first day but in the second, the Giant salamander finally showed up. The Mossy Frog was particularly difficult but someone helped to point the rascal out. I guess this proves how brilliantly well designed the enclosures in SLoRA are.

29. Kaiser's Spotted Newt (Neurergus kaiseri)
30. Chapa Mossy Frog (Theloderma bicolor)
31. Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus)

 

[Skukuza]

Exmoor Zoo 16.05.24
16) White's Tree Frog, Ranoidea caerulea

Bristol Aquarium 23.05.24
17) Iberian Ribbed Newt, Pleuredoles walti
18) Brown Mantella, Mantella betsileo
19) Bumblebee Dart Frog, Dendrobates leucomelas
20) Green and Black Dart Frog, Dendrobates auratas
21) Phantasmal Dart Frog, Epipedobates tricolor

*Newts are new and held in a long tank behind the small touch tank in the education area.

 

[bongorob]

Skukuza, I think you may have listed Phantasmal Dart Frog in error as I may have. ZTL lists Anthony's Dart Frog at Bristol Aquarium.

If we are really lucky Blackpool and Bristol do hold Phantasmal Poison Dart Frogs and we have seen something new.

 

[Skukuza]

Skukuza, I think you may have listed Phantasmal Dart Frog in error as I may have. ZTL lists Anthony's Dart Frog at Bristol Aquarium.

If we are really lucky Blackpool and Bristol do hold Phantasmal Poison Dart Frogs and we have seen something new.

Thanks @bongorob just looked up pictures of both species and look quite similar.

I was working from exhibit signage for species name etc as below.



Apologies it is not a very clear picture but was only using it for own records.

Frog in one of the tanks looked like the one signed…

could be mislabelled of course but seems unlikely?