Miami MetroZoo / January 24, 2004 and July 3, 2005

Cuban Crocodile

The Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) is the rarest crocodile in the Western Hemisphere. It has the smallest range of any crocodile and can be found only in Cuba in the Zapata Swamp in the northwest and in the Lanier Swamp on Isla de Juventud (Isle of Youth). The Cuban Crocodile appears to favor freshwater habitat such as swamps, marshes, and rivers and rarely swims in salt water. Status: Critically Endangered --> Status information found at the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (January 24, 2004)

Cuban Crocodile

The Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) is the rarest crocodile in the Western Hemisphere. It has the smallest range of any crocodile and can be found only in Cuba in the Zapata Swamp in the northwest and in the Lanier Swamp on Isla de Juventud (Isle of Youth). The Cuban Crocodile appears to favor freshwater habitat such as swamps, marshes, and rivers and rarely swims in salt water. Status: Critically Endangered --> Status information found at the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (January 24, 2004)

Blue-winged Kookaburra

The Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) is one of the largest members of the kingfisher family. It has a streaked head and blue wings and rump and a characteristic extended manic laughing call. This forest-dwelling bird is common throughout most of northern Australia and southern New Guinea. (January 24, 2004)

Sumatran Orangutan

The Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) is almost exclusively arboreal, living among the trees of tropical rainforests. Females virtually never travel on the ground and adult males do so rarely. The word orangutan translates as "Person of the Forest" in Malay and Bahasa Indonesian. Orangutans are very similar to humans; they share 96.4% of our genes. The Great Apes are humankind's closest living relatives. Pongo abelii is endemic to the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. It is generally restricted to the north of the island, north of the Batang Toru river on the west coast of North Sumatra province. Orangutans are frugivores and play a vital role in the dispersal of seeds over a huge area. If Orangutans were to disappear, so would several tree species, especially those with larger seeds. Status: Critically Endangered --> It is in grave danger of extinction. --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (January 24, 2004)

White-handed Gibbon

The White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is native to Southeast Asia and lives in small family groups in dense forest habitat. They travel through their environment using their long, strong fingers which help form a hook for swinging hand-over-hand method of locomotion known as brachiation. Their coat color ranges from cream to black and does not indicate the age or the gender of the animal. Gibbons are considered the aerial acrobats of the animal world. Their "opposable" thumbs increase dexterity. The White-handed Gibbon, like the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan, is an ape, not a monkey. The chief characteristics distinguishing apes from monkeys are the absence of a tail, their more or less upright posture, and the high development of their brain. Gibbons are forest creatures that live in troops. They have long arms and legs and get around by swinging from branch to branch with their arms, like trapeze artists, or running hurriedly over branches. Their arms can be 2 1/2 times as long as their body length! Some gibbons have a huge inflatable pouch on the throat (like a treefrog) that they use when calling. The species as a whole is found in northern Sumatra (Indonesia), throughout Peninsular Malaysia (except for a narrow strip between the Perak and Mudah Rivers, where H. agilis occurs), north through southern and eastern Myanmar (east of the Salween River), most of Thailand (though not in the north-east), and marginally into southern China. Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (January 24, 2004)

Malayan Tapir

The Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) has 14 hooves, a rubbery snout, and walks under water. They are the only Asian species of tapir. Its closest relatives are the horse and rhinoceros. Tapir's closest relatives are horses and rhinos and they inhabit jungle and forest lands in Central and South America as well as in Southeast Asia. (An unusual distribution, which can hardly be overlooked by anyone interested in geomorphology.) All four species are considered by one list or another to be endangered. The Malayan tapir is the species of tapir that lives in the Southeast Asia. The other three live in the Americas. Deprived of much of its former range by logging, war and human habitation, these strikingly-marked animals, built for survival and existing unchanged for millions of years, are now at risk for extinction. The Asian tapir is the largest of the tapir species, reaching about 800 to 900 pounds. The unique "saddle blanket" pattern of white midsection with dark front and rear quarters makes the tapir's outline hard to see in the moonlit shadows of the tropical forest. Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (January 24, 2004)

Inside the Wings of Asia Aviary

(January 24, 2004)

Siamang

The Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) (SEE-uh-mang) belong to the family Hylobatidae, which includes all 11 gibbon (or lesser ape) species. It is the largest of the lesser apes. Siamangs are native to the island of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Siamangs sing so loudly that it can be heard for up to 3 miles (4.8 km). To produce this loud call, Siamangs have a hairless, reddish-brown or gray throat (laryngeal) pouch which acts as a resonator to enhance the carrying of their call. When not in use, the pouch is hidden under their long, shaggy, jet-black fur. When inflated, the pouch is about the size of a Siamang's head, and amplifies its hooting and barking to ear-splitting levels. Usually involving the adult pair, the male and female sing different but coordinated parts; songs have a definite beginning, middle and end. Each elaborate duet begins slowly, then accelerates in speed. A song lasts about 18 seconds and is repeated for about 15 minutes. The Siamang is the largest of the lesser apes. Siamangs and gibbons are the only anthropoid apes that habitually walk erect like humans. In their treetop habitat, they will walk along a vine as if on a tightrope with their hands held high for balance. The Siamang is distinctive for two reasons. The first is that two fingers on each hand are fused together (hence the name "syndactylus"). The second is the large "gular sac" (found in the male of the species), which is a throat pouch that can be inflated to the size of its head, allowing the Siamang to make loud resonating calls or songs. Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (January 24, 2004)

Caribbean Flamingo

The Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), also called the American flamingo, is the most brightly colored and largest of all flamingos. With their bright feathers and strongly hooked bills, flamingos are among the most easily recognized waterbirds. Their pink or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments (like the pigments of carrots) in the algae and small crustaceans that the birds eat. The Caribbean flamingos are the brightest, showing their true colors of red, pink, or orange on their legs, bills, and faces. They are a scarlet pink color overall and have black primary feathers. Their bill is downward bending at its midpoint. They have large bodies and flexible long necks topped with a small head. The flamingo's long legs and feet are bare, and their toes are webbed, which is good for wading. Young birds are mostly grey and do not develop their characteristic pink until after the first year. The sexes are similar in appearance. (July 3, 2005)

Caribbean Flamingo

The Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), also called the American flamingo, is the most brightly colored and largest of all flamingos. With their bright feathers and strongly hooked bills, flamingos are among the most easily recognized waterbirds. Their pink or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments (like the pigments of carrots) in the algae and small crustaceans that the birds eat. The Caribbean flamingos are the brightest, showing their true colors of red, pink, or orange on their legs, bills, and faces. They are a scarlet pink color overall and have black primary feathers. Their bill is downward bending at its midpoint. They have large bodies and flexible long necks topped with a small head. The flamingo's long legs and feet are bare, and their toes are webbed, which is good for wading. Young birds are mostly grey and do not develop their characteristic pink until after the first year. The sexes are similar in appearance. (July 3, 2005)

White Ibis [immature]

The White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is one of the most numerous wading birds in Florida and is common elsewhere in the southeast. The White Ibis is highly sociable at all seasons, roosting and feeding in flocks, and nesting in large colonies. Immature White Ibis are dark brownish with a white belly, white rump, and curved red bill. The White Ibis is an excellent example of the colonial waterbird. These birds nest in huge colonies in fresh water marshes or along the ocean coast. Researchers have counted 60,000-80,000 individuals in one colony in the Everglades National Park, Florida. During the day, White Ibis may fly up to 15 miles or more to find small crustaceans, fish, frogs, and aquatic insects to eat and to feed their young. When breeding, the bill, face, and legs turn scarlet. White Ibis can be found along the coast of North Carolina to Florida and Texas. (July 3, 2005)

Temple Building - Bengal Tiger Exhibit

The Temple Building - Tiger Exhibit was designed based on five ruins in India. In their natural habitat in Asia, tigers have been know to take over abandoned temples. (July 3, 2005)

Bengal Tiger Exhibit

(July 3, 2005)

Tiger

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest cat species. At one time there were eight subspecies; now, there are only six. They once ranged widely across Asia, from Turkey in the west to the eastern coast of Russia (Nowell and Jackson, 1996). Over the past 100 years, tigers have disappeared from southwest and central Asia, from two Indonesian islands (Java and Bali) and from large areas of Southeast and Eastern Asia. Tigers have lost 93% of their historic range (Sanderson et al., 2006). Tigers are currently found in twelve Asian range states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Viet Nam. They may still persist in North Korea, although there has been no recent confirmed evidence. It is the largest living member of the cat family and no two animals are the same; each Bengal Tiger has its own pattern of stripes. Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (July 3, 2005)

Bengal Tiger

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest cat species. At one time there were eight subspecies; now, there are only six. They once ranged widely across Asia, from Turkey in the west to the eastern coast of Russia (Nowell and Jackson, 1996). Over the past 100 years, tigers have disappeared from southwest and central Asia, from two Indonesian islands (Java and Bali) and from large areas of Southeast and Eastern Asia. Tigers have lost 93% of their historic range (Sanderson et al., 2006). Tigers are currently found in twelve Asian range states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Viet Nam. They may still persist in North Korea, although there has been no recent confirmed evidence. It is the largest living member of the cat family and no two animals are the same; each Bengal Tiger has its own pattern of stripes. Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (July 3, 2005)

Tiger

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest cat species. At one time there were eight subspecies; now, there are only six. They once ranged widely across Asia, from Turkey in the west to the eastern coast of Russia (Nowell and Jackson, 1996). Over the past 100 years, tigers have disappeared from southwest and central Asia, from two Indonesian islands (Java and Bali) and from large areas of Southeast and Eastern Asia. Tigers have lost 93% of their historic range (Sanderson et al., 2006). Tigers are currently found in twelve Asian range states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Viet Nam. They may still persist in North Korea, although there has been no recent confirmed evidence. It is the largest living member of the cat family and no two animals are the same; each Bengal Tiger has its own pattern of stripes. Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (July 3, 2005)

Orchid

A gorgeous orchid attached to a tree trunk (July 3, 2005)

Orchid

A gorgeous orchid attached to a tree trunk (July 3, 2005)

White-handed Gibbon

The White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is native to Southeast Asia and lives in small family groups in dense forest habitat. They travel through their environment using their long, strong fingers which help form a hook for swinging hand-over-hand method of locomotion known as brachiation. Their coat color ranges from cream to black and does not indicate the age or the gender of the animal. Gibbons are considered the aerial acrobats of the animal world. Their "opposable" thumbs increase dexterity. The White-handed Gibbon, like the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan, is an ape, not a monkey. The chief characteristics distinguishing apes from monkeys are the absence of a tail, their more or less upright posture, and the high development of their brain. Gibbons are forest creatures that live in troops. They have long arms and legs and get around by swinging from branch to branch with their arms, like trapeze artists, or running hurriedly over branches. Their arms can be 2 1/2 times as long as their body length! Some gibbons have a huge inflatable pouch on the throat (like a treefrog) that they use when calling. The species as a whole is found in northern Sumatra (Indonesia), throughout Peninsular Malaysia (except for a narrow strip between the Perak and Mudah Rivers, where H. agilis occurs), north through southern and eastern Myanmar (east of the Salween River), most of Thailand (though not in the north-east), and marginally into southern China. Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (July 3, 2005)

Siamang

The Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) (SEE-uh-mang) belong to the family Hylobatidae, which includes all 11 gibbon (or lesser ape) species. It is the largest of the lesser apes. Siamangs are native to the island of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Siamangs sing so loudly that it can be heard for up to 3 miles (4.8 km). To produce this loud call, Siamangs have a hairless, reddish-brown or gray throat (laryngeal) pouch which acts as a resonator to enhance the carrying of their call. When not in use, the pouch is hidden under their long, shaggy, jet-black fur. When inflated, the pouch is about the size of a Siamang's head, and amplifies its hooting and barking to ear-splitting levels. Usually involving the adult pair, the male and female sing different but coordinated parts; songs have a definite beginning, middle and end. Each elaborate duet begins slowly, then accelerates in speed. A song lasts about 18 seconds and is repeated for about 15 minutes. The Siamang is the largest of the lesser apes. Siamangs and gibbons are the only anthropoid apes that habitually walk erect like humans. In their treetop habitat, they will walk along a vine as if on a tightrope with their hands held high for balance. The Siamang is distinctive for two reasons. The first is that two fingers on each hand are fused together (hence the name "syndactylus"). The second is the large "gular sac" (found in the male of the species), which is a throat pouch that can be inflated to the size of its head, allowing the Siamang to make loud resonating calls or songs. Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (July 3, 2005)

White Ibis [immature]

The White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is one of the most numerous wading birds in Florida and is common elsewhere in the southeast. The White Ibis is highly sociable at all seasons, roosting and feeding in flocks, and nesting in large colonies. Immature White Ibis are dark brownish with a white belly, white rump, and curved red bill. The White Ibis is an excellent example of the colonial waterbird. These birds nest in huge colonies in fresh water marshes or along the ocean coast. Researchers have counted 60,000-80,000 individuals in one colony in the Everglades National Park, Florida. During the day, White Ibis may fly up to 15 miles or more to find small crustaceans, fish, frogs, and aquatic insects to eat and to feed their young. When breeding, the bill, face, and legs turn scarlet. White Ibis can be found along the coast of North Carolina to Florida and Texas. (July 3, 2005)

Dwarf Caiman

The Dwarf Caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus), the smallest of the crocodiles, rarely reaches a length of five feet. Dwarf caiman are often distinguished by the unusual shape of their head. The skull sits very high and the snout makes an upturned curl. The structure of the skull suggests that they make use of burrows as shelter during the day. They are widely distributed in northern South America where they are still farily common. (July 3, 2005)

Sumatran Orangutan

The Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) is almost exclusively arboreal, living among the trees of tropical rainforests. Females virtually never travel on the ground and adult males do so rarely. The word orangutan translates as "Person of the Forest" in Malay and Bahasa Indonesian. Orangutans are very similar to humans; they share 96.4% of our genes. The Great Apes are humankind's closest living relatives. Pongo abelii is endemic to the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. It is generally restricted to the north of the island, north of the Batang Toru river on the west coast of North Sumatra province. Orangutans are frugivores and play a vital role in the dispersal of seeds over a huge area. If Orangutans were to disappear, so would several tree species, especially those with larger seeds. Status: Critically Endangered --> It is in grave danger of extinction. --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (July 3, 2005)

Sumatran Orangutan

The Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) is almost exclusively arboreal, living among the trees of tropical rainforests. Females virtually never travel on the ground and adult males do so rarely. The word orangutan translates as "Person of the Forest" in Malay and Bahasa Indonesian. Orangutans are very similar to humans; they share 96.4% of our genes. The Great Apes are humankind's closest living relatives. Pongo abelii is endemic to the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. It is generally restricted to the north of the island, north of the Batang Toru river on the west coast of North Sumatra province. Orangutans are frugivores and play a vital role in the dispersal of seeds over a huge area. If Orangutans were to disappear, so would several tree species, especially those with larger seeds. Status: Critically Endangered --> It is in grave danger of extinction. --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (July 3, 2005)