ZooChat 'Embrace the ABCs' Challenge - Mammals

Reading through this thread has been a real joy! Strategy and taxonomy instruction were but the start; graceful wit so abounds here that I had laugh-out-loud moments on every page. So fulfilling on so many different levels! I can't believe I didn't find this sooner.

I'm not the strongest with taxonomy, and I've never had occasion to look closely at the holdings of European zoos, so I was genuinely surprised by how common species are that I've never seen, not to mention species like the Turkmenian whateveritwas or the Edible Dormouse that I didn't know existed, that seem either poetic or obscure. There is so much to learn here, especially sources, that I'll inevitably be back for further absorption and enjoyment! Thank you!
 
A little tour for an addtional point, We're getting close...

Heimattiergarten Fürstenwalde (29/02/2020)

Bison bosanus: European wisent
Rupicapra rupicapra: Alpine chamois


A: Alces alces: European Elk (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 3 points)
B: Bison bosanus: European wisent (Heimattiergarten Fürstenwalde 29/02/2020, 3 points)
C:Caracal caracal: Caracal (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 3 ponts)
D: Dama dama, Fallow deer (Hasenheide, 12/01/2020, 3 points)
E: Eyra barbara: Tayra (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 2 ponts)
F: Cryptoprocta ferox: Fossa (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 1 pont)
G:
H: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris: Capybara (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 3 points)
I:
J: Acynonix jubatus: Cheetah (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 1 pont)
K: Kobus ellipsiprymnus: Common Waterbuck (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 2 points)
L: Lynx lynx: Eurasian lynx (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 3 points)
M: Miles miles: European badger (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 3 points)
N :Neofelis nebulosa: Clouded leopard (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 3 ponts)
O: Ovis orientalis (cycloceros): Turkmenian mountain sheep (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 3 points)
P: Panthera pardus: Leopard (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 3 points)
Q: Equus quagga: Plains zebra (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 1 point)
R: Rupicapra rupicapra: Alpine chamois (Heimattiergarten Fürstenwalde 29/02/2020, 3 points)
S: Sus scrofa, Wild boar (Rehberge, 12/01/2020, 3 points)
T: Tapirus terrestris: Brazilian tapir (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 3 points)
U:
V: Vicugna vicugna: Vicuna (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 3 points)
W: Catagons wagneri: Chacoan peccary (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 1 point)
X: Sapajus xanthosternus: Golden-bellied capuchin (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 1 point)
Y: Herpailurus yagouarundi: jaguarundi (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 1 point)
Z: Zalpohus californianus: California sea lion (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 2 points)
Points: 57
 
Dudley Zoo and Wild Zoological Park (both 23/02/20)

My first same-day twofer.

Dudley Zoo:

Sapajus xanthosternos - Buffy-headed Capuchin

Wild Zoological Park:

Nasua nasua - Ring-tailed Coati
Herpailurus yagouaroundi - Jaguarundi

And so the one letter I had an actual plan worked out for (Y) falls on an unplanned visit to a brand-new zoo for me. Also got me a better N than I thought I'd have time for, and that plan still has a role to play...


A: Ateles paniscus - Red-faced Spider Monkey (Welsh Mountain Zoo, 23rd Feb 2020)
B: Bison bonasus - European Bison (Whipsnade, 19th Jan 2020)
C: Crocuta crocuta - Spotted Hyaena (YWP, 18th Jan 2020)
D: Dama dama - Fallow Deer (Whipsnade, 19th Jan 2020)
E: Equus grevyi - Grevy's Zebra (Whipsnade, 19th Jan 2020)
F: Ateles fusciceps - Colombian Spider Monkey (Chester, 31st Jan 2020)
G: Gulo gulo - Wolverine (Whipsnade, 19th Jan 2020)
H: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris - Greater Capybara (YWP, 18th Jan 2020)
I: Hydropotes inermis - Chinese Water Deer (Whipsnade, 19th Jan 2020)
J: Okapia johnstoni - Okapi (Chester, 31st Jan 2020)
K: Kobus leche - Lechwe (YWP, 18th Jan 2020)
L: Lynx lynx - Northern Lynx (Whipsnade, 19th Jan 2020)
M: Micromys minutus - Eurasian Harvest Mouse (WWT Slimbridge, 25th Jan 2020)
N: Nasua nasua - Ring-tailed Coati (Wild Zoological Park, 1st Mar 2020)
O: Orycteropus afer - Aardvark (Chester, 31st Jan 2020)
P: Papio papio - Guinea Baboon (YWP, 18th Jan 2020)
Q:
R: Rhinoceros unicornis - Indian Rhinoceros (Chester, 31st Jan 2020)
S: Suricatta suricata - Meerkat (YWP, 18th Jan 2020)
T: Tapirus terrestris - Brazilian Tapir (Chester, 31st Jan 2020)
U: Ursus maritimus - Polar Bear (YWP, 18th Jan 2020)
V: Varecia variegata - Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur (Chester, 31st Jan 2020)
W: Wallabia bicolor - Swamp Wallaby (Welsh Mountain Zoo, 23rd Feb 2020)
X: Sapajus xanthosternos - Buffy-headed Capuchin (Dudley Zoo, 1st Mar 2020)
Y: Herpailurus yagouaroundi - Jaguarundi (Wild Zoological Park, 1st Mar 2020)
Z: Zalophus californianus - California Sea Lion (Whipsnade, 19th Jan 2020)

Points: 54

Fun fact - the species I need to finish on is one I have seen on previous occasions at no fewer than FOUR of the zoos I've been to this year, but it's no longer kept at any of them..!
 
FunkyGibbon said:
Yesterday was the first time I saw an animal (Axis axis) which would have got me more points than the one I actually recorded. Juggling this is supposed to be a key part of the challenge, but I freely admit it was a frustrating moment. When the challenge is over there will be a listening period to see how (and if!) it can be improved.
Click to expand...

I was got the same way today by an unexpected Atelerix albiventris..! :D
 
@Maguari I find it more than a little amusing that the only thing standing between you and six bonus points is plains zebra. Have you really not seen it anywhere yet?

Edit: I see you addressed this point :p
 
FunkyGibbon said:
@Maguari I find it more than a little amusing that the only thing standing between you and six bonus points is plains zebra. Have you really not seen it anywhere yet?

Edit: I see you addressed this point :p
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say I hated Grevy's, but...
 
Well, as some may have guessed, I had a little joker up my sleeve. I didn't intend to use it up until yesterday, but weather conditions required the xth change of plans:

Zoo Berlin 06.03.2020

Gorilla gorilla: Lowland gorilla
Hydropotes iniernis: Chinese water deer
Ursus maritimus: Polar bear

A: Alces alces: European Elk (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 3 points)
B: Bison bosanus: European wisent (Heimattiergarten Fürstenwalde 29/02/2020, 3 points)
C:Caracal caracal: Caracal (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 3 ponts)
D: Dama dama, Fallow deer (Hasenheide, 12/01/2020, 3 points)
E: Eyra barbara: Tayra (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 2 pionts)
F: Cryptoprocta ferox: Fossa (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 1 point)
G: Gorilla gorilla: Lowland gorilla (Zoo Berlin, 06/03/2020, 3 points)
H: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris: Capybara (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 3 points)
I: Hydropotes iniernis: Chinese water deer (Zoo Berlin, 06/03/2020, 1 point)
J: Acynonix jubatus: Cheetah (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 1 pont)
K: Kobus ellipsiprymnus: Common Waterbuck (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 2 points)
L: Lynx lynx: Eurasian lynx (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 3 points)
M: Miles miles: European badger (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 3 points)
N :Neofelis nebulosa: Clouded leopard (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 3 ponts)
O: Ovis orientalis (cycloceros): Turkmenian mountain sheep (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 3 points)
P: Panthera pardus: Leopard (Katzenzentrum Felidae 25/01/2020, 3 points)
Q: Equus quagga: Plains zebra (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 1 point)
R: Rupicapra rupicapra: Alpine chamois (Heimattiergarten Fürstenwalde 29/02/2020, 3 points)
S: Sus scrofa, Wild boar (Rehberge, 12/01/2020, 3 points)
T: Tapirus terrestris: Brazilian tapir (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 3 points)
U: Ursus maritimus: Polar bear (Zoo Berlin, 06/03/2020, 2 points)
V: Vicugna vicugna: Vicuna (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 3 points)
W: Catagons wagneri: Chacoan peccary (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 1 point)
X: Sapajus xanthosternus: Golden-bellied capuchin (Tierpark Berlin 18/01/2020, 1 point)
Y: Herpailurus yagouarundi: jaguarundi (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 1 point)
Z: Zalpohus californianus: California sea lion (Zoo Dortmund 15/02/2020, 2 points)
First one to finish: 6 points
Points: 66

:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
 
I'm trying to figure things out, so kindly bear with me...

Is it just for purposes of this challenge, or for the taxa in general, to use equus quagga or Plains Zebra instead of three-part names for the subspecies? I've never seen "Plains Zebra" used, only Grant's Zebra, equus quagga boehmi. Or is this somehow because I am in North America? If the name used were equus boehmi, we'd lack this great "q" entry.

Also, if know subspecies of leopards and call them by name, ie Amur Leopard or Javan Leopard, why does the official name revert to the more general Panthera pardus? This especially confuses me, because the lion is a subspecies of the leopard but is recognized as Panthera leo, and not Panthera pardus, and the jaguar is a subspecies of the leopard but is recognized officially as Panthera onca and not Panthera pardus? This seems inconsistent for a science.
 
AmbikaFan said:
I've never seen "Plains Zebra" used, only Grant's Zebra, equus quagga boehmi. Or is this somehow because I am in North America? If the name used were equus boehmi, we'd lack this great "q" entry.
Click to expand...

Grant's Zebra is a subspecies of Plains Zebra - there are other extant subspecies within Equus quagga.

AmbikaFan said:
This especially confuses me, because the lion is a subspecies of the leopard but is recognized as Panthera leo, and not Panthera pardus, and the jaguar is a subspecies of the leopard but is recognized officially as Panthera onca and not Panthera pardus?
Click to expand...

This would be because the lion is not a subspecies of leopard, and nor is the jaguar - they are fully distinct species.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Grant's Zebra is a subspecies of Plains Zebra - there are other extant subspecies within Equus quagga.
Click to expand...

Yes, I guess I was wondering why in Europe and zoos listed herein, the more general species name is used instead of whatever subspecies that zoo holds, the way we use Grant's.
 
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