ZooChat Challenge UK 2016

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Well, for a few hours at least, I am ahead of Zoogiraffe!
After visiting Whipsnade (13 species) on 1/1/16 and London Zoo (35) today, my total is 48. Only 2 no shows in the Reptile House, I was surprised there were only 31 possibles in there! I have made a list, but won't waste my time typing it out yet, as I'm pretty sure I'll be out of contention within a week or so!
I wouldn't bet agains't you still holding it by then I know my plans till the end of Jan and I will not be adding anywhere close to another 8!
 
Well, I thought I'd give this a go. It bucketed down at London yesterday so perfect weather to do a couple of laps of the Reptile House. I will admit reptiles aren't usually my thing, but it was a lot of fun trying to find the animals hidden in the enclosures :D

London Zoo 2/1/2016
1. King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
2. Gidgee Skink (Egernia stokesii)
3. Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri)
4. Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
5. Boelen’s Python (Morelia boeleni)
6. Jamaican Boa (Epicrates subflavus)
7. Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)
8. Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus)
9. Mediterranean Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca)
10. Green Tree Monitor (Varanus prasinus)
11. Rhinoceros Viper (Bitis nasicornis)
12. Carpet Python (Morelia spilota)
13. Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes)
14. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
15. Milk Snake (Lampropeltis Triangulum)
16. Philippine Water Monitor (Varanus cumingi)
17. Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)
18. Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)
19. Red-tailed Rat Snake (Gonyosoma oxycephalum)
20. Black Mamba (Dendroageis polylepis)
21. Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)
22. Mangrove Snake (Boiga dendrophila)
23. Annam Leaf Turtle (Mauremys annamensis)
24. False Water Cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas)
25. Black-headed Python (Aspidites melanocephalus)
26. Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum)
27. Blue Tree Monitor (Varanus macraei)
28. Egyptian Tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni)
29. Fiji Iguana (Brachylophus bulabula)
30. Vietnamese Long-nosed Snake (Rhynchophis boulengeri)
31. Dumeril’s Boa (Acrantophis dumerili)
32. Chinese Crocodile Lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus)
33. Jackson’s Chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii)
34. Glazz Lizard (Ophisaurus apodus)
35. Caiman Lizard (Dracaena guianensis)
36. Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina mccordi)
37. Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone nigra)
38. Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
39. Fly River Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)
40. Amazon Giant River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa)
41. Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis)
42. Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
43. Red-footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria)
 
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Well lets get this challenge started and give the rest of you something to shoot at,but this year I will only list the species that I have seen and not the collection I have seen them at,as I know where quite a few odd species are kept that aren't on zootierlist,so I plan on making people work this year!!

I've pondered all day about which side of the gamesmanship/bad sportsmanship boundary this lies on and I can't decide, but it keeps things interesting and rewards curiosity/ingenuity so I'm happy to go with it.

The only two rules I'd add (my challenge, my rules) if anyone takes this approach are:

1. That you must reveal where you've seen everything at the year-end;
2. If I ask you, you've got to let me know (in confidence) where you've seen them. If anyone wants to challenge other players claims, ask me and I'll check the facts.

This is to stop fantasists and mis-identifications -whilst I'm happy that ZG is unlikely to fall into either category I believe the above rules are needed to ensure the challenge retains it's integrity.
 
I've pondered all day about which side of the gamesmanship/bad sportsmanship boundary this lies on and I can't decide, but it keeps things interesting and rewards curiosity/ingenuity so I'm happy to go with it.

The only two rules I'd add (my challenge, my rules) if anyone takes this approach are:

1. That you must reveal where you've seen everything at the year-end;
2. If I ask you, you've got to let me know (in confidence) where you've seen them. If anyone wants to challenge other players claims, ask me and I'll check the facts.

This is to stop fantasists and mis-identifications -whilst I'm happy that ZG is unlikely to fall into either category I believe the above rules are needed to ensure the challenge retains it's integrity.
I have no problem with any of that hadn't even thought that it could be a problem,but more than happy to let you know,where I have seen anything that people question!But I know what i have seen so far is correct,and I would like to think that most people are clever enough to work out,which collections I have seen the stuff I list!!!

If you want I will declare all the locations after I have hit a total of over 100?
 
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As I needed to renew my annual pass today, I added a few more at Colchester, making my total 65.
These 3 visits were planned some time ago, but it may be a while before I add any more.
 
Bit of a slow start, but here goes:

Current total as of 05/01/2015: 5 taxa

1) Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) at Hancock Museum - 05/01/2016
2) Royal Python (Python regius) at Hancock Museum - 05/01/2016
3) Ornate Mastigure (Uromastyx ornata) at Hancock Museum - 05/01/2016
4) Jungle Carpet Python (Morelia spilota cheynei) at Hancock Museum - 05/01/2016
5) Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) at Hancock Museum - 05/01/2016

Current duplicate sighting total as of 05/01/2015: 0 taxa
 
It would appear that it is now a 2 horse race,seeing as only 2 of us have posted a list of what we have seen,now lets see which one of us gets to 3 figures first now tld!
 
Three horse race actually; Crowthorne has also posted a list, and she is currently a few taxa ahead of you :p
 
As I needed to renew my annual pass today, I added a few more at Colchester, making my total 65.
These 3 visits were planned some time ago, but it may be a while before I add any more.

At Whipsnade 1/1/16
1. Sahara Spiny Tail Lizard
2. Blue spiny lizard
3. Plumed Basilisk
4. Utila Iguana
5. Giant Plated Lizard
6. Roti Island Snake Necked Turtle
7. Yellow Footed tortoise
8. Matamata turtle
9. Egyptian tortoise
10. African Pancake tortoise
11. Reticulated python
12. West African Dwarf crocodile
13. Beaded lizard

London Zoo 2/1/16
14. Red tailed ratsnake
15. Galapagos giant tortoise
16. Komodo Dragon
17. Green iguana
18. Panther chameleon
19. Phillipine crocodile
20. King Cobra
21. Gidgee skink
22. Mangrove snake
23. Annam Leaf turtle
24. Green tree monitor
25. False Water cobra
26. Black headed python
27. Fiji iguana
28. Dumerils boa
29. Philippine water monitor
30. Jackson's chameleon
31. Glass lizard
32. Blue tree monitor
33.green anaconda
34. Boelens python
35. Jamaican boa
36.Emerald tree boa
37. Caiman lizard
38. Puff adder
39. Mediterranean spur thighed tortoise
40. Jungle carpet python
41. Rhinoceros viper
42. Sidewinder
43. Western Diamondback
44. Pueblan milksnake
45. Gila monster
46. Inland taipan
47. Black mamba
48. Amazon giant river turtle

At Colchester 3/1/16
49. Asian giant pond turtle
50. Green anole
51. Malagasy tree boa
52. Rhinoceros iguana
53. Bearded Dragon
54. Corn snake
55. Royal python
56. Aldabra tortoise
57. Leopard tortoise
58. African Rock python
59. Burmese python
60. Cuban crocodile
61. African spurred tortoise
62. Burmese mountain tortoise
63. Radiated tortoise
64.Nile monitor
65. Eastern box turtle
 
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:D
At Whipsnade 1/1/16
1. Sahara Spiny Tail Lizard
2. Blue spiny lizard
3. Plumed Basilisk
4. Utila Iguana
5. Giant Plated Lizard
6. Roti Island Snake Necked Turtle
7. Yellow Footed tortoise
8. Matamata turtle
9. Egyptian tortoise
10. African Pancake tortoise
11. Reticulated python
12. West African Dwarf crocodile
13. Beaded lizard

London Zoo 2/1/16
14. Red tailed ratsnake
15. Galapagos giant tortoise
16. Komodo Dragon
17. Green iguana
18. Panther chameleon
19. Phillipine crocodile
20. King Cobra
21. Gidgee skink
22. Mangrove snake
23. Annam Leaf turtle
24. Green tree monitor
25. False Water cobra
26. Black headed python
27. Fiji iguana
28. Dumerils boa
29. Philippine water monitor
30. Jackson's chameleon
31. Glass lizard
32. Blue tree monitor
33.green anaconda
34. Boelens python
35. Jamaican boa
36.Emerald tree boa
37. Caiman lizard
38. Puff adder
39. Mediterranean spur thighed tortoise
40. Jungle carpet python
41. Rhinoceros viper
42. Sidewinder
43. Western Diamondback
44. Pueblan milksnake
45. Gila monster
46. Inland taipan
47. Black mamba
48. Amazon giant river turtle

At Colchester 3/1/16
49. Asian giant pond turtle
50. Green anole
51. Malagasy tree boa
52. Rhinoceros iguana
53. Bearded Dragon
54. Corn snake
55. Royal python
56. Aldabra tortoise
57. Leopard tortoise
58. African Rock python
59. Burmese python
60. Cuban crocodile
61. African spurred tortoise
62. Burmese mountain tortoise
63. Radiated tortoise
64.Nile monitor
65. Eastern box turtle

Linton 9/1/16
66. Red footed tortoise
67. Indian Star tortoise
68. Elongated tortoise

Species seen most so far - Yellow footed tortoise at all 4 zoos, nothing else at more than 2
 
All from Tropical World on 9/1/2016, annoyingly there were several no-shows...

1. Morelet's Crocodile
2. Yellow Anaconda
3. Red-tailed Boa
4. Pancake Tortoise
5. Sudan Plated Lizard
6. Central Bearded Dragon
7. Jamaican Boa
8. Cuban Boa
9. Egyptian Tortoise
10. Leopard Gecko
11. Utilia Iguana
12. Leopard Tortoise
13. Eastern Snake-necked Turtle
14. Red-eared Slider

I did see a couple of tortoises, although I'm not sure on their species.
 
Right another visit today added a few more to my list but as I said was never going to add many given the collections that I have or have planned to visit over the next month or so,certainly will not get any next weekend as the place only has Birds and a couple of Mammal species!

1) Tentacled Snake (Erpeton tentaculatum)
2) False Gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii)
3) Giant Asian Pond Turtle (Heosemys grandis)
4) Painted Turtle (Batagur borneonsis)
5) Burmese Brown Tortoise (Manouria emys)
6) Annam Leaf Turtle (Mauremys annamensis)
7) Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina mccordi)
8) Red-tailed Racer (Gonysoma oxycephala)
9) Bell's Angle-headed Lizard (Gonocephalus bellii)
10) Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus)
11) Mangrove Snake (Boiga dendrophila melanota)
12) White-lipped Viper (Cryptelytrops albolabris)
13) Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus)
14) Crocodile Monitor (Varanus salvadorii)
15) Gaboon Viper (Bitis rhinoceros)
16) Parson`s Chameleon (Calumma parsonii)
17) Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra)
18) Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
19) Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus)
20) Casque-headed Lizard (Laemanctus serratus)
21) Caiman Lizard (Dracaena guianensis)
22) Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella)
23) Indochinese Box Turtle (Cistoclemmys galbinifrons)
24) Yellow Spotted Amazon River Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis)
25) Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
26) Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis)
27) Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
28) Yellow Rat Snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)
29) Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus)
30) Horsfields Tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii)
31) Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)
32) Royal Python (Python regius)
33) Berber Skink (Eumeces schneideri)
34) Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)
35) Burmese Python (Python bivittatus)
36) Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)
37) Common Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor)
38) Crested Gecko (Correlophus ciliatus)
39) Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)
40) Savannah Monitor (Varanus exanthematicus)
41) Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni)
42) Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri)
43) Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
44) African Spurred Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata)
45) Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)

Have also now also seen the following species in 2 collections Corn Snake,Boa Constrictor,Inland Bearded Dragon and Horsfields Tortoise!
 
All from Tropical World on 9/1/2016, annoyingly there were several no-shows...

1. Morelet's Crocodile
2. Yellow Anaconda
3. Red-tailed Boa
4. Pancake Tortoise
5. Sudan Plated Lizard
6. Central Bearded Dragon
7. Jamaican Boa
8. Cuban Boa
9. Egyptian Tortoise
10. Leopard Gecko
11. Utilia Iguana
12. Leopard Tortoise
13. Eastern Snake-necked Turtle
14. Red-eared Slider

I did see a couple of tortoises, although I'm not sure on their species.

A few from Manchester Museum (17/1/2016):

15. Cone-headed Lizard Laemanctus longipes
16. Green Tree Python Morelia viridis
17. Fijian Banded Iguana Brachylophus fasciatus
18. Green Tree Monitor Varanus prasinus
19. Panther Chameleon Furcifer pardalis
20. Allison's Anole Anolis allisoni
 
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Nice to see the usage of scientific names being used on this challenge given that more than a few species have the same common name,like for example in the UK we have 2 different species using the name Fiji Banded Iguana,but are not the same species!!!
 
Chester Zoo-23/01/2016

  1. Tentacled Snake (Erpeton tentaculatum) at Chester Zoo
  2. Mountain Horned Lizard (Acanthosaura capra)at Chester Zoo
  3. Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella) at Chester Zoo
  4. Giant Asian Pond Turtle (Heosemys grandis) at Chester Zoo
  5. Sunda Gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) at Chester Zoo
  6. Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys) at Chester Zoo
  7. Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) at Chester Zoo
  8. Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) at Chester Zoo
  9. Red-tailed Racer (Gonysoma oxycephala) at Chester Zoo
  10. Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus) at Chester Zoo
  11. Mangrove Snake (Boiga dendrophila melanota) at Chester Zoo
  12. White-lipped Viper (Cryptelytrops albolabris) at Chester Zoo
  13. Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus) at Chester Zoo
  14. Salvador’s Monitor (Varanus salvadorii) at Chester Zoo
  15. Indonesian Spiny Tortoise (Heosemys Spinosa) at Chester Zoo
  16. Gaboon Viper (Bitis rhinoceros) at Chester Zoo
  17. Tautara (Sphenodon punctatus) at Chester Zoo
  18. Parson’s Chameleon (Calumma parsonii) at Chester Zoo
  19. Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) at Chester Zoo
  20. Cone-Headed Lizard (Laemanctys serratus) at Chester Zoo
  21. Indochinese Box Turtle (Cistoclemmys galbinifrons) at Chester Zoo
  22. Caiman Lizard (Dracaena guianensis) at Chester Zoo
  23. Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) at Chester Zoo
  24. Yellow Spotted Amazon River Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) at Chester Zoo
 
Mountain Horned Lizard (Acanthosaura capra)at Chester Zoo

I know Acanthosaura taxonomy and identification is a confusing and convoluted topic, but zootierliste only lists chester as having A. lepidogaster, not A. capra
 
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A few from Manchester Museum (17/1/2016):

15. Cone-headed Lizard Laemanctus longipes
16. Green Tree Python Morelia viridis
17. Fijian Banded Iguana Brachylophus fasciatus
18. Green Tree Monitor Varanus prasinus
19. Panther Chameleon Furcifer pardalis
20. Allison's Anole Anolis allisoni

Some more from Flamingo Land (24/1/2016):

21. Burmese Python Python bivittatus
22. Red-footed Tortoise Chelonoidis carbonaria
23. Sulcata Tortoise Centrochelys sulcata
24. Corn Snake Pantherophis guttatus
25. Black Rat Snake Pantherophis obsoletus
 
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