Southern Tamandua Latin Name: Tamandua tetradactyla Order: Pilosa Family: Myrmecophagidae Southern tamandua are also known as lesser anteaters (based on a comparison to Giant Anteaters) and collared anteaters/tamandua (due to their standard coloration of a dark patch of fur in a collar shape on their back). There is a second species of tamandua, the northern tamandua (T. mexicana). This species
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Moon Crab Latin Name Gecarcinus quadratus Order: Decapoda Family: Gecarcinidae The common name “moon crab” is sometimes used for other Gecarcinus species or crabs in the genus Cardisoma. G. quadratus is also commonly known as the Halloween crab. Overview As one of the most surprising, yet familiar arthropod species, land crabs can make very good ambassadors – but they can’t
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Green-winged Macaw Ara chloroptera Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Overview With regard to their availability and suitability as ambassador animals: Contact the Parrot TAG for availability of macaws through AZA facilities. Macaws do not need to be hand-reared from hatch to make good ambassador birds, in fact, allowing birds to remain with their parents until weaned makes for a healthier individual
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Poison Dart Frogs (Green & Black) Dendrobates auratus Order: Anura Family: Dendrobatidae Overview Green and Black poison dart frogs are relatively easy to care for and have many programming messages, making them a wonderful addition to an ambassador team. At Akron Zoo, our frogs are set up in bioactive housing, which takes some time to establish. However,
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Boa constrictor Order: Squamata Family: Boidae Related species: Boa constrictor constrictor (red-tailed boa), Boa imperator (Columbian boa) There is some debate as to whether Boa imperator (the Central American population) is a subspecies of Boa constrictor or it’s own species. See ITIS, CABI, and Wikipedia. Natural History Information Range and Habitat Boa constrictors are found from southern Mexico to north
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Rhinella marina, or Bufo marinus Order: Anura Family: Bufonidae Natural History Information Range and Habitat The native range of the marine toad (also known as the cane toad) is from the Rio Grande valley of Texas south to the Central Amazon and southeastern Peru. They have also been introduced into other areas, such as the Caribbean Islands, south Florida, the
Read moreOsteopilus septentrionalis Order: Anura Family: Hylidae Natural History Information Range and Habitat Longevity Ecosystem Role Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Life Cycle Natural History Relevant Information Temperature, Humidity, Light Cycles Substrate: Social Housing/Colony Management Other General Housing Requirements or Management information Diet Requirements Life Cycle Relevant Information Diet under human care Veterinary Concerns Enrichment Behavioral Relevant Information Environmental Enrichment Behavioral Enrichment
Read moreRhechosticta seemanni Order: Araneae Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Diet Requirements In the wild, spiderlings eat pinhead crickets and other small insects, while adults eat crickets, other large insects, and the occasional small vertebrate. In captivity, they are feed crickets every week, and one pinkie mouse or earth worm once a month. Veterinary Concerns Notes on Enrichment & Training Other Colony
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Sphiggurus mexicanus Order: Rodentia Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Diet Requirements Zupreem Primate, sweet potatoes, carrots. In the wild, these porcupines prefers fruits and seeds, but they also eat leaves and buds. Veterinary Concerns Notes on Enrichment & Training Other Colony or Breeding Management Individual Identification Programmatic Information Transportation Temperature Guidelines Crating: Tips on Presentation Touching Techniques Tips
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Dasypus novemcinctus Order: Edentata or Xenarthra Husbandry Information Housing Requirements This species has been housed successfully in 6-8 foot metal troughs/stock tanks with a wood and mesh lid. Built in enclosures such as Corners Cages would also work for this species. Provide a hide box and stuff with balled newspaper. The armadillo will shred the paper and make a nest out
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