Wingham Wildlife Park

Lizard, Girdle Tailed (Cordylus tropidosternum)

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:36:38 GMT

Animal facts

Size
This lizard reaches an average length of 16 to 19 cm.

Habitat and Distribution
Dry forests and rock faces are the most common places to find this species from the Kenyan coast through to Eastern Zimbabwe and Central Mozambique. They spend a lot of time around rocks and trees because at any sight of danger they will wedge themselves in to crevices.

Age
24 to 25 years are not uncommon for this species.

Diet
This is an insectivorous species feeding on a variety of insects around their normal habitat. This includes spiders, beetles, grubs and worms etc.

Groups and Breeding
If they are found within close proximity with one another it is most likely that all of the individuals are females, or the group contains only a single male, as the males are very aggressive towards each other. This species gives birth to live young, with the babies being fully functioning immediately.

Threats
This is a very common species throughout its range and is under no immediate threat, however it is extensively caught for the pet trade (they do not produce many young in captivity making them a rarely available captive bred animal). This trade may eventually lead to a dramatic drop in their numbers for the future..

Interesting fact's
This lizard is often called the Armadillo lizard in the pet trade, however this is incorrect. The Armadillo lizard looks very similar and is from the same family, however it gets its name from the way it rolls in to a ball, biting its own tail to close the ball firmly. The Girdle Tailed Lizard does not display this behaviour.

Duck, Indian Runner

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:14:15 GMT

Animal facts

Size
On average they stand up around 20 inches and reach weights of 3 to 4.5 lbs.

Habitat and Distribution
This is a domesticated duck species which was selectively bred in various parts of Indonesia originally. They are thought to have been bred in a way which allows them to easily run standing vertically, making it easier to walk them to market.

Age
The average lifespan of a pet or breeder animal is 8 to 10 years.

Diet
These birds are often fed on commercially available duck feed, however they also spend a lot of time foraging in grass for insects and worms.

Groups and Breeding
This duck lives well in large groups and depending on the climate they can often breed all year round, with females laying an average of 150 to 200 eggs per year.

Threats
This is a commonly kept domestic breed which has no threats of becoming a rare breed. The unusual way these ducks move about and their inability to fly well make them very popular pets.

Interesting fact's
Proof of this breeds long standing popularity comes from the Beatrix Potter character Jemmima Puddle Duck, most likely having been based on an Indian Runner (due to its upright posture, and reluctance to incubate her own eggs - something common amongst Indian Runners).

Fish, Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:41:44 GMT

Animal facts

Size
Females reach a length of 4 to 6 cm while the males only reach around 3.5 cm.

Habitat and Distribution
This is a fresh water fish which originates from Brazil, Barbados, Antigua, Timor, Guyana, Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela, Virgin Islands and Vietnam. However they have also been introduced to numerous other countries on all continents other than Antarctica.

Age
This species generally lives for 3 to 5 years.

Diet
This fish feeds on tiny insects, and as a result was introduced to many countries as a way of controlling mosquito populations.

Groups and Breeding
This species can be found in large groups throughout its range. This is a live bearing fish which has a gestation of around 30 days. After this period the female will give birth to 2 to 100 fry (baby fish).

Threats
This species is fairly common in the wild and is not considered to be threatened. In the past it was often collected for the pet trade, however they are such prolific breeders, and have had so much time invested in them to selectively breed a multitude of fantastic colours and patterns that they are sought after as captive bred animals for the pet trade today.

Interesting fact's
Even though they are a freshwater fish they can withstand a salinity level 150% higher than sea water.

Toad, Bumble Bee Walking (Melanophryniscus stelzneri)

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:38:58 GMT

Animal facts

Size
The size of this species differs according to the sex. Males generally reach no longer than 25mm, whilst female will get to lengths of 30mm to 35mm, with 40mm having been recorded in this small species.

Habitat and Distribution
This is a rainforest dwelling frog which can be found only in fragmented groups through Central and Northern Argentina.

Age
The average lifespan of this little toad is around 10 years..

Diet
This species feeds on very small insects such as baby crickets, flies and ants etc.

Groups and Breeding
This species will breed after a short winter period where the temperatures drop somewhat. To signify the end of this period and the start of the breeding season, the males are usually stimulated to seek out the females by the increased rainfall. After the male mounts the female she will lay clutches of 7 to 15 eggs, which are fertilised by the male as they are laid. Between them they can lay up to 200 eggs per season. The tadpoles will hatch in the shallow water the eggs are laid in after 12 to 48 hours (depending on the water temperature).

Threats
This species is classed as Least Concern by the IUCN, and their population is generally thought to be stable. They are collected sometimes for the pet trade however this does not have a great impact on their population because they are a secretive species which is time consuming to find in the wild, and in return does not make a popular pet (for the same reason).

Interesting fact's
There is a subspecies of this frog which is called Melanophryniscus stelzneri spegazzini, which was discovered and described in 1961, however has not been seen again since that same year according to the IUCN.

Lizard, Sudan Plated (Gerrhosaurus major)

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:27:40 GMT

Animal facts

Size
The size of this animal can range between 14 and 20 inches, however closer to the lower figure of 14 inches is more common.

Habitat and Distribution
This species inhabits rocky deserts and scrubland, where it will hide in rock crevices when threatened. They can be found throughout much of Eastern and Southern Africa.

Age
The average life expectancy of this lizard is between 10 and 15 years.

Diet
These are omnivores, which means that they will eat just about anything. Their diet mainly consists of insects and small rodents, however they will also often eat plant matter and fruits.

Groups and Breeding
Large groups of these lizards can often be seen sharing a common area in the wild, however they are not a particularly social animal. Such groups are only the result of sharing a site which has good potential for breeding and feeding, and is close to water. They breed at the end of the cooler period of the year (which lasts around 4 to 6 weeks). After this the females will lay a clutch of 2 to 6 eggs which hatch after an incubation period of 3 to 4 months.

Threats
This is a very common lizard throughout its home range and does not have any direct threats at this time. However over time this may well change as more of their habitat is taken over by human (although luckily deserts and dry scrub are not the most popular development sites for people). Also they are extensively caught and exported for the pet trade which may eventually catch up with their natural numbers.

Interesting fact's
Of all the Gerrhosaururidae lizards (Plated Lizards) these are the most armoured.

Tortoise, Leopard (Geochelone pardalis)

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:36:55 GMT

Animal facts

Size
The average size of this tortoise is 18 inches, with a weight of around 40 lbs, however they have been recorded to easily reach 28 inches, with a weight of 120 lbs. In areas such as Sudan with higher humidity they have been recorded growing to a massive 45 inches.

Habitat and Distribution
This is a savannah dwelling species which can be found through much of Africa, from Sudan down to the Southern Cape.

Age
Average lifespan of around 100 years.

Diet
The majority of its diet is made up of eating the dry grasses through its habitat, however they relish the fruit and pads of the prickly pear cactus.

Groups and Breeding
This animal generally does not reach sexual maturity until it is around 15 years old. During courtship, the males will try to attract females by repeatedly ramming in to them with their head or shell. The females will lay between 5 and 18 eggs, which hatch after an incubation period of around 160 days.

Threats
Their greatest threat has always been from being caught and exported for the pet trade, however thankfully due to a dramatic increase in captive breeding the need to buy wild caught animals has dropped drastically.

Interesting fact's
In many cultures through its range its a very respected animal revered as a symbol for strength and immortality.

Lizard, Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:20:05 GMT

Animal facts

Size
They can vary in size from 5 to 8 inches.

Habitat and Distribution
Many habitats (woodland, coastal, urban, fields etc.) throughout much of Southeastern North America.

Age
Average of 4 years, however 8 years is not unheard of.

Diet
A variety of small insects.

Groups and Breeding
These lizards can often be found in high numbers throughout their range. A female will lay 1 to 2 eggs per clutch, laying up to 5 clutches per breeding season. These eggs hatch after 30 to 45 days.

Threats
This is a very common animal which even lives very happily in human settlement drawn to areas producing rubbish (which in turn attracts flies and beetles for the anoles to feed on).

Interesting fact's
Males have a red flap of skin under their chin called a "dewlap" which they spread out like a flag to display to other anoles.

Monkey, Vervet (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:08:27 GMT

Animal facts

Size
An adult male of this species will reach a length of around 40 to 43 cm with a tail reaching a further 50cm, while an adult female will grow to around 34 to 39 cm adding a further 30 to 40 cm with her tail.

Habitat and Distribution
These animals will spend as much time in the trees as on the ground, which is part of the reason behind them not living in dense forest, but often preferring to live in more open areas. They will almost always be found in fairly close proximity of water holes or rivers. Their natural distribution covers much of Southern and Eastern Africa covering covering Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan through to South Africa.

Age
In captivity these animals will live for around 25 years, while wild animals often do not live past the age of 12 to 15.

Diet
The majority of their diet is made up for fruits, seeds and grasses, however they will also occasionally eat insects and small mammals / birds if they can catch them. On the Island of Saint Kitts they have grown to love a dietary item brought across by tourists, leaving these monkeys to often be the culprits behind the theft of alcopops on the beach.

Groups and Breeding
These animals have been known to live in groups of up to 80 individuals. During the breeding season male will mate with several females, with every female producing a single offspring after a 160 day gestation period. The young are fully weaned after 6 months.

Threats
This animal is not considered to be under threat, and their population is currently not being heavily monitored. However they are threatened by a number of factors which may change this in the future including, hunting for sport and bush meat, trapping for traditional medicine, encroachment by human settlement and becoming the victims of road kill.

Interesting fact's
In the wild Vervet Monkeys have been known to have distinct warning calls for Leopards, Eagles and Snakes.

Turtle, Common Snapping (Chelydra serpentina)

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:43:18 GMT

Animal facts

Size
The average length of this animal is around 20 inches, with a weight of around 10 to 35 lbs. In exceptional circumstances they have been recorded as up to 75 lbs.

Habitat and Distribution
This is a fresh water turtle living in rivers, ponds, swamps and lakes in Northern America, where its range can extend from South Easter Canada, down to as far as Ecuador.

Age
The average captive lifespan of this species is around 45 years.

Diet
These animals will sit fully or partially submerged and will wait for animals to pass by them. They will then snap out and eat anything which they can physically manage including fish, insects, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds.

Groups and Breeding
They are generally fairly solitary animals however will often cross paths with one another in ponds and rivers etc. where several may share the same range. During the breeding season (April to November), females will travel great distances over land to find suitable nesting site. Once a nest site has been found each female can lay 25 to 80 eggs which will hatch after 9 to 18 weeks (depending on the temperature).

Threats
Due to their wide range and relatively few natural predators, this species is not widely considered to be threatened. It is still occasionally killed through hunting or accidental trapping, and as with many animals are constantly on the move due to human encroachment on to their habitat.

Interesting fact's
These animal can bite with amazing speed and power, with the bite of an average Common Snapping Turtle producing 1004 lbs per square inch of pressure..

Crocodile, Cuban (Crocodylus rhombifer)

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:37:21 GMT

Animal facts

Size
On average this crocodile reaches lengths of around 8 feet, making it a fairly small crocodile.

Habitat and Distribution
In the wild this crocodile is found in only 2 places, which are the Zapata Swamp in Cuba, as well as the Isle of Youth which lies South West of the Zapata Swamp. It prefers fresh water habitats and is rarely found in brackish or salt water areas..

Age
The average lifespan of these animals is around 65 to 75 years.

Diet
The diet of these animals revolves greatly around the water ways in which they live. They will feed on a large number of fish, mammals, birds and turtles which live in and around their habitat. Turtles are easily eaten through specially adapted blunt teeth at the rear of the mouth. They are very adept at feeding on birds which sit on branches overhanging the water. They are known to regularly jump up to 4 feet out of the water to snatch the birds straight off the branches.

Groups and Breeding
This species has a 3 to 4 month breeding season in the wild, which starts during May. After breeding takes place the females will lay an average of 30 to 40 eggs in a nest in the mud. These eggs will hatch after approximately 70 days.

Threats
This species is critically endangered due to a number of factors. These include a very restricted natural distribution, and having been hunted to near extinction in the past. A further factor is that they often hybridise with other species in the wild, especially American Crocodiles, which has severely damaged their natural gene pool.

Interesting fact's
This is one of the few crocodiles who are able to jump as high as about 3 feet while on the land. Many crocodiles jump out of the water, especially when young, however the Cuban Crocodile is one of the few crocodiles which uses it as a common feeding strategy in adult life. They are also one of the fastest moving crocodiles on land, having specially adapted feet with reduced webbing to make it easier to move on land.