Zoo Miami / April 19, 2013

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.

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.

Wood Duck [male]

The Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches. Wood Ducks pair up in January, and most birds arriving at the breeding grounds in the spring are already paired. The Wood Duck is the only North American duck that regularly produces two broods in one year.

Wood Duck [male] and Ruddy Duck

The Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches. Wood Ducks pair up in January, and most birds arriving at the breeding grounds in the spring are already paired. The Wood Duck is the only North American duck that regularly produces two broods in one year. The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Ruddy Duck [male]

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Zoo Miami

Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Sumatran tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The last of Indonesia’s tigers—as few as 400 today—are holding on for survival in the remaining patches of forests on the island of Sumatra. Accelerating deforestation and rampant poaching mean this noble creature could end up like its extinct Javan and Balinese relatives. They are known for having a “beard” around their faces, and a denser stripe pattern than other tigers.Zoo Miami is fortunate to have two of these beautiful animals. Berani, a male, born March 6, 2008, is a laid back tiger, but will occasionally act aggressively toward his keepers. His favorite enrichment is a plastic barrel hung in his night house. He likes to stand up and bang it around, bite and claw it. Leeloo, a female, born July 9, 2011, is much more reserved than Berani. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs in the air. She enjoys her big, hard plastic boomer balls, palms and branches. She also likes watching her reflection in a mirror! Status: Critically Endangered

Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Sumatran tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The last of Indonesia’s tigers—as few as 400 today—are holding on for survival in the remaining patches of forests on the island of Sumatra. Accelerating deforestation and rampant poaching mean this noble creature could end up like its extinct Javan and Balinese relatives. They are known for having a “beard” around their faces, and a denser stripe pattern than other tigers.Zoo Miami is fortunate to have two of these beautiful animals. Berani, a male, born March 6, 2008, is a laid back tiger, but will occasionally act aggressively toward his keepers. His favorite enrichment is a plastic barrel hung in his night house. He likes to stand up and bang it around, bite and claw it. Leeloo, a female, born July 9, 2011, is much more reserved than Berani. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs in the air. She enjoys her big, hard plastic boomer balls, palms and branches. She also likes watching her reflection in a mirror! Status: Critically Endangered

Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Sumatran tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The last of Indonesia’s tigers—as few as 400 today—are holding on for survival in the remaining patches of forests on the island of Sumatra. Accelerating deforestation and rampant poaching mean this noble creature could end up like its extinct Javan and Balinese relatives. They are known for having a “beard” around their faces, and a denser stripe pattern than other tigers.Zoo Miami is fortunate to have two of these beautiful animals. Berani, a male, born March 6, 2008, is a laid back tiger, but will occasionally act aggressively toward his keepers. His favorite enrichment is a plastic barrel hung in his night house. He likes to stand up and bang it around, bite and claw it. Leeloo, a female, born July 9, 2011, is much more reserved than Berani. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs in the air. She enjoys her big, hard plastic boomer balls, palms and branches. She also likes watching her reflection in a mirror! Status: Critically Endangered

Pink & White Shower Tree

Pink & White Shower Tree (Cassia javanica)

Pink & White Shower Tree

Pink & White Shower Tree (Cassia javanica)

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

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

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

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

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

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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

Northern White-cheeked Gibbon [male]

The Northern White-cheeked Gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) is "frugivorous" (diet is primarily fruit) and spends most of its time in the forest canopy searching for food. Gibbons use a highly specialized mode of of locomoation called "brachiation." This hand-over-hand motion of swinging through the trees is their main pattern of movement. Gibbons are lesser apes, as evidenced by their lack of tails and opposable thumbs. The reason they are "lesser" is because of their diminutive body size in comparison with the great apes. They can cover nearly 40 feet in a single swing and the are the fastest and most agile of all tree-dwelling, nonflying mammals. The average life span of the White-cheeked Gibbon in the wild is 28 years. This species is typically found in some parts of South East Asia, specifically Northern Lao People's Democratic (Laos) and Viet Nam. Status: Critically Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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

Northern White-cheeked Gibbon [male]

The Northern White-cheeked Gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) is "frugivorous" (diet is primarily fruit) and spends most of its time in the forest canopy searching for food. Gibbons use a highly specialized mode of of locomoation called "brachiation." This hand-over-hand motion of swinging through the trees is their main pattern of movement. Gibbons are lesser apes, as evidenced by their lack of tails and opposable thumbs. The reason they are "lesser" is because of their diminutive body size in comparison with the great apes. They can cover nearly 40 feet in a single swing and the are the fastest and most agile of all tree-dwelling, nonflying mammals. The average life span of the White-cheeked Gibbon in the wild is 28 years. This species is typically found in some parts of South East Asia, specifically Northern Lao People's Democratic (Laos) and Viet Nam. Status: Critically Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Malayan Sun Bear

The Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is nocturnal and escapes the sun's heat by sleeping in caves or trees by day. Bowed forelegs, curved claws, and great strength equip the sun bear for tree-climbing. Named for the golden crescent, or "U" shaped golden patch on their chest, sun bears are otherwise all black with smooth, short fur. Sun Bears occur in mainland Southeast Asia as far west as Bangladesh and northeastern India (Chauhan 2006), as far north as southern Yunnan Province in China, and south and east to Sumatra and Borneo, respectively. It now occurs very patchily through much of its former range, and has been extirpated from many areas, especially in mainland southeast Asia. Its current distribution in eastern Myanmar and most of Yunnan is unknown. Given the Sun Bear’s dependence on forest, it is clear that the large-scale deforestation that has occurred throughout southeast Asia over the past three decades has dramatically reduced suitable habitat for this species. Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Malayan Sun Bear

The Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is nocturnal and escapes the sun's heat by sleeping in caves or trees by day. Bowed forelegs, curved claws, and great strength equip the sun bear for tree-climbing. Named for the golden crescent, or "U" shaped golden patch on their chest, sun bears are otherwise all black with smooth, short fur. Sun Bears occur in mainland Southeast Asia as far west as Bangladesh and northeastern India (Chauhan 2006), as far north as southern Yunnan Province in China, and south and east to Sumatra and Borneo, respectively. It now occurs very patchily through much of its former range, and has been extirpated from many areas, especially in mainland southeast Asia. Its current distribution in eastern Myanmar and most of Yunnan is unknown. Given the Sun Bear’s dependence on forest, it is clear that the large-scale deforestation that has occurred throughout southeast Asia over the past three decades has dramatically reduced suitable habitat for this species. Status: Vulnerable --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Northern Shoveler [male] in Wings of Asia

The Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), perhaps the most outwardly distinctive of the dabbling ducks, inhabits wetlands across much of North America. The most visible diagnostic characteristic of the northern shoveler is its large spoon-shaped bill, which widens towards the tip and creates a shape unique among North American waterfowl. Its elongated, spoon-shaped bill has comblike projections along its edges, which filter out food from the water. The bill has has about 110 fine projections (called lamellae) along the edges, for straining food from water. Northern Shoveler pairs are monogamous, and remain together longer than pairs of other dabbling duck species.