Jacksonville Zoo, Jacksonville, Florida



Ostrich

Ostrich

Transvaal Lion (Panthera leo Krugeri) - This region is in South Africa across the Vaal River from the South African Cape. The male Lion's mane protects his neck during fights to protect the females. A lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away. Males roar to communicate territorial boundaries and females roar to call their cubs.

White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) - Africa. They are not white, but different shades of grey, depending of the mud they wallow in. The Dutch named them for their wide lip. Their word for wide is "weit".

Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) - United States, Mexico, Central and South America, to Northern Argentina. Their bald heads enable them to feed by dipping into muddy water - no feathers to spoil.	Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) - New Guinea, East Indonesia, Australia and Pacific Islands. These birds feed on pollen and nectar. There length is 10 1/2 inches. They have a unique v-shaped tongue with long papillae so they can drink necar.

Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) - Africa. This is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.

Common Wart Hog (Phacochoerus africanus) - Africa. These Wart Hogs live in family groups and sometimes include more than one family.

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Africa. The Cheetah is the fastest land animal and can reach up to 70 miles per hour. However, they run out of steam after about 950 feet. Their spots are solid.

Reticulated Giraffe and calf (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) - Africa. The baby giraffe here was born in September, 2006 so at this time, February, 2007 it was 5 months old. Giraffe have seven very large vertebrae in their neck.


Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi) - Florida. The Panther has other common names: Mountain Lion, cougar, puma and catamount. The hunting area of a panther is around 500 square miles. The baby panther are born with spots and a ringed tail. The kitten's eyes are blue when they open one week after birth. When they get older they change to yellowish-brown.
	Ready, Set, Go!
This Florida Panther leaped into the tree after a bird. He missed the bird, but had fun in the chase.

The Florida Panther was stocking the bird.

The Florida Panther can run up to 35 miles an hour, but only for a while. It's not a long-distane runner.

Jaguar

Black Jaguar

Black Jaguar

Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) - Guatemala to northern Argentina in open forest and savanna. The elongated nose of the anteater is perfect for their diet of ants and termites. Out of the five toes, the second and third toes are especially strong with sharp claws to help in getting the termites out of the termite hills. They have a long, thin sticky tongue perfect for getting into ant nests. Their tongues can lick around 150 times a minute. After a baby is born, the baby crawls onto the mothers back and is carried their for most of the first year. The Anteater is actually related to sloths and armadillos.

Bongo (Tragelaphus euryceros) - Africa. These are Spiral-Horned Bovines. The Bongo have vivid white stripes on each side. There are white patches on the outer side of the face along with a white v-shape above the black nose. There are also black and white markings on the legs and a white crest on the chest.

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) - Africa. These large ears help to reduce body heat and swat insects near their eyes. There are approximately 150,000 muscle groups that go through the trunk. This enables the elephant's trunk to have the flexiility to pick up a small piece of rice and strong enough to carry heavy logs. After taking in water at the watering hole, the trunk can spray that water all over the elephants back.

Soemmerring's Gazelle (Gazella soemmerringii soemmerringii) - Africa. The Arabic meaning is "little wild goat". The Gazelle is adapted for dry conditions, receiving moisture from the food it eats so they can go without water for long periods of time.

Red Wolf (canis rufus)

Cotton Top Tamaarin (Saquinus oedipus) - Northwest Colombia. They spend their time in the canopy about 15 to 45 feet above the rain forest floor.

Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) - Central and South America and Panama. The Capybara search for food in groups. They are good swimmers. There are four toes on the front feet and three toes in the back, joined together by a membrane.

Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) - Southern Mexico to Ecuador. The long, finger-like snout is used to pull food into their mouths.

Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber) - North and South America from Venezuela to Southern Brazil. They usually are in flocks. The slender, curved bill is used for probing into shallow water and mud for food.

Red-Legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) - South America. These long legs help the seriema to hunt for food. They seldom fly but run extremely fast.

Stanley Crane	Saddle-Billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) - Africa south of Sahara Desert. This is a wading stork with long legs and a large bill with yellow saddle. The leg knee joints are red ib black legs.

Green Mamba (Dendroaspis viridis) - Tropical Forests. These snakes are seven feet long. They glide through trees quickly and gracefully. Venomos.

Speke's Gazelle (Gazella spekei) - East Ethiopia and Somalia. They can turn sharply to evade capture. When on the alert for danger, a Speke Gazelle shakes or twitches it's flank skin prier to fleeing.

zebra

Egyptian Cobra (Naja haje haje) - Savanna woodland and semi dessert.

Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica) - Tropical Forests and thick woodlands.

Bonobo (Pan paniscus) "pygmy" chimps are now known as a separate species. They are extremely athletic, leaping great distances. these chimps were unheard of until 1929. They were the last of the great apes to be discovered.

Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) - Western and Central Africa from Gabon and Southwestern Cameroon to Equatorial Guinea and Southwestern Congo. The inhabit the tropical rain forest floor where they find plants, nuts, fruit, mushrooms and small animals to eat. Mandrill are the largest monkey. The word "mandrill" means "man-ape".